v^ 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


/  a  & 

WILMER  COLLECno 


THE 


EIVAL  VOLUNTEERS ; 


OB, 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES. 


BY    MAET   A.  HOWE. 


NEW  YORK: 
JOHISr    BEADBUEi^ 

(successor    to    II.     DOOLADT,) 

49   WALKER   STREET. 

1864. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  jear  1661,  by 

MARY.    A,    HOWE, 

In  the  OfiBceof  the  Clerk  of  the  United  States  Conrt,  for  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


W.  H.  Tixsox,  Stereotrper,  Joh:?  J.  Reed.,  Printer, 

43  Centre  S*. ,  N.  Y.  43  Centre  St,  X.  Y. 


Mt  Bkother, 

WILLIAM     HILLS, 
Serving  in  the  First  Regiment  of  Masaachusetts  VolunieerB, 

These  pages  are  affectionately  inscribed,  with  a  sister's  earnest  assurance  that  not 

alone  our  country's  brave  defenders  suffer  in  this  our  hour  of  national 

anguish ;  but  that  many  who  obey  no  bugle  call,  listen  to  no 

cannon's    roar,   bear,    nevertheless,   their    full    share    in 

the  nation's  sorrow,  through  lasting  ties  of 

kindred  and  of  sympathy. 


602964 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

PAGB 

I. — In  the  Sunshine, Y 

II.— In  the  Shade, 

.          18 

III.— Changeful  Skies, 

.       33 

lY.— Gathering  Clouds,  .... 

.       64 

v.— Xo  Ray  of  Cheer, 

.       72 

VI. — Disenchantment, 

.       85 

VII.— Rifts  of  Brightness  through  Darksome  Gloom, 

106 

VIII.— Correspondence, 

.     120 

IX.— News, 

.     136 

X. — ^Prisoner's  Diary, 

.     149 

XI.— The  Midnight  Flitting,     .        .        .        .        . 

111 

XII.— Love  in  Disguise, 

193 

XIII.— Ward  for  Incurables,       .        .        .    |k»  • 

206 

XIV.— Home, 

.     226 

XV.— Reaping  the  Whirlwind,            .         .        .         , 

.     240 

XVI.— The  Rebound,         .        .         .        •        . 

254 

XVII.— Charity, 

.     264 

XVIII.— An  Old  Actor  in  a  Xew  Guise, 

.     289 

XIX. — The  Clandestine  Interview, 

.     303 

XX.— Rejected  Proposals, 

.     312 

XXI.— Advice  Gratis, 

.     327 

XXII. — Chance  Encounters,        .... 

» 

.     341 

XXIII.— Conclusion, 

. 

.     859 

THE  RIYAL  YOLUATTEERS; 

OE, 

THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES, 


CHAPTEE     I. 


IN"   THE   SUXSHINE. 


Sullenly  tlie  lowering  war-cloud  brooded  over  the 
thriving  western  city,  whose  marvellous  growth  in  all 
material  prosperity  had  been  suddenly  checked  by 
the  devastating  influence  of  the  fierce  conflict,  rending 
kin  from  kin  asunder,  and  transforming  friends  and 
neighbors  into  vindictive  and  remorseless  foes  and  as- 
sailants. The  tread  of  armed  men  was  becoming  a 
familiar  sound  throughout  the  streets,  while  on  the 
evening  breeze,  as  well  as  day's  more  sultry  airs,  floated 
up  from  encampments  in  the  environs  martial  strains 
from  bugle  and  clarion,  mingling  with  the  drum's  deep 
roll. 

A  body  of  Union  soldiery  had  been  fired  upon  by  an 
excited  crowd  cheering  wildly  for  Jefi".  Davis  and  the 
South.  The  fire  had  taken  eflect  on  harmless  pedes- 
trians, some  random  shots  even  entering  dwelling-houses 
to  the  utter  consternation  of  their  peaceful  inmates, 


8  THE    EIVAL   volunteers;    OR, 

adding  fresh  fuel  to  tlic  flames  of  animosity  already 
raging  throngliont  tlie  length  and  breadth  of  the  State. 

A  mysterious  red  chalk-mark  had  been  discovered 
beneath  the  threshold  of  more  than  one  dwelling  harbor- 
ing inmates  suspected  of  secession  proclivities,  and  the 
sinister  rumor  had  been  bruited  round,  that  houses  thus 
designated  were  to  be  given  up  to  plunder  and  pillage, 
and  razed  to  the  ground  under  cover  of  night — a  rumor 
so  terrifying  to  the  Secessionists,  that  more  than  one 
family,  hastily  packing  up  their  most  precious  valu- 
ables, betook  themselves  therewith  to  their  carriages, 
leaving  the  city  with  all  speed,  spending  the  entire 
night  in  the  fields,  and  not  venturing  to  return  in  the 
morning  until  a  servant  had  first  been  sent  out  in  recon- 
noisance,  to  ascertain  if  haply  their  own  roof-trees  re- 
mained to  shelter  them. 

Li  the  midst  of  all  this  fearful  foreboding  and  deadly 
virulence,  one  spacious  mansion,  the  gilding  of  its  cor- 
nices fresh  and  bright,  the  paint  of  its  frescoes  scarcely 
dry,  echoed  only  to  sounds  of  mirth  and  festivity.  Ko 
loud,  spirit-stirring  peals  of  music  here,  only  those 
light,  airy  tones  inspiring  languid  "  poetry  of  motion." 
TTho  could  have  dreamed — to  have  seen  these  men  be- 
curled  and  be-perfumed,  these  women  be-jewelled  and 
be-gemmed,  floating  in  clouds  of  gossamer  lace  and 
gauzy  tissue  through  the  mazes  of  the  circling  dance, 
or  exchanging  with  their  companions  that  gay-hued 
conversational  efflorescence  which  is  generally  the 
nearest  approach  to  real  interchange  of  thought  per- 
mitted by  such  a  scene — that  outside  lurked  grim  hor- 
ror, stalked  ghastly  carnage,  its  trail  the  death-scent  in 
the  air.  Within  the  lofty  apartments  shone  dazzling 
splendor — without,  crouched  squalid  misery  grovelling 
in  moral  mire  :  within  was  beauty,  grace,  tashioii,  the 
gay,  careless  laugh,  the  polished  gleam  of  wit  foiled  by 
repartee  as  keen — without,  the  angry  scowl  of  the  foot- 


THE    BLACK   TLUME    niFLES.  9 

sore  guard  as  his  eye  rested  on  the  colored  lanterns 
illuminating  the  garden  that  separated  the  house  from 
the  street,  or  his  ear  caught  the  tones  of  the  band, 
which,  instead  of  discoursing  such  dulcet  strains,  should 
have  been  sounding  forth  spirited  appeals  to  young 
men  and  okl,  to  rise  up  in  their  might  and  nerve  their 
strong  right  arms  to  valiant  deeds  in  defence  of  country 
and  home. 

Let  me  personalize  a  few  of  the  actors  in  the  festal 
throng.  This  portly,  red-faced,  middle-aged  gentleman, 
'with  pompous  air  of  ownership,  as  who  should  say, 
"  Behold  the  extent  of  my  possessions,  and  beholding 
the  same,  be  ye  thereby  abased,"  is  Mr.  Caruthers,  the 
bachelor  host  of  the  entertainment ;  and  the  exquisitely 
attired  brunette,  stylish  in  appearance  and  with  coldly 
polished  manners,  calculated  rather  to  command  re- 
spect than  to  conciliate  regard,  is  a  younger  sister  who 
mis  the  position  of  hostess  in  receiving  and  2^i*oviding 
amusement  for  her  brother's  guests.  His  eye  rests  not 
ill-pleased  upon  the  graceful,  buoyant  figure  of  a  fair 
young  girl,  whose  claims  to  notice  merit  at  least  a  pass- 
ing description.  She  i&  a  little  above  the  average  height, 
her  flexile,  willowy  form  wholly  free  from  that  wasp- 
like contortion  of  the  waist  (hideous  deformity  !  syno- 
nym with  slow  and  lingering  decay)  which  so  utterly 
destroys  symmetry  of  contour  in  so  many  of  our  young 
countrywomen.  Her  luxuriant  amber  hair  falls  in 
thick,  heavy  curls  over  a  well-rounded  neck,  by  no 
means  of  ivory  whiteness,  but  of  delicate,  creamy  flesh- 
tint.  Her  brow  is  perhaps  too  full  and  heavy  for  the 
lower  part  of  the  face,  but  this  one  scarcely  remem- 
bers when  marking  the  sparkling  vivacity  of  the  deep 
hazel  eyes,  the  flitting  hues  of  the  changeful  cheek,  and 
f     the  varying  expression  of  the  mobile  "mouth.     Gentle 


and  winning  as  were  her  manners',  there  was,  neverthe- 
less, something  in  her  erect  bearing,  in  the  stately  turn 

1* 


10  THE   RIVAJL   TOLUNTEEKS  ;    OR, 

of  her  handsome  head,  that  showed  she  Tvas  hardly  the 
person  to  submit  passively  to  a  wrong  or.  an  indignity ; 
tliat  those  hazel  eyes  could  flash  with  ire,  as  well  as 
dance  with  mirth  or  melt  with  tenderness  ;  that  beneath 
that  girlish  exterior  dwelt  a  high,  indomitable  spirit, 
which  would  bear  her  bravely  up  under  trials  that 
would  crush  a  feebler  nature  into  the  very  depths  of  de- 
spondency. 

To  explain  why  I  thus  particularize  the  attractions  of 
Minnie  Brandon,  I  may  as  Avell  state  at  once  that  she 
is  the  bride-elect  of  the  host,  whose  thoughts,  as  he 
listened  to  the  playful  raillery  with  which  she  parried 
the  jesting  adulation  lavished  upon  her,  ran  nearly  in 
this  wise  :  "  How  perfectly  at  ease  she  seems,  although 
this  is  probably  the  first  time  she  ever  took  part  in  such 
a  brilliant  assemblage.  She  will  grace  well  the  station 
to  which  I  propose  raising  her,  and  do  credit  to  my 
taste  and  my  fortune ;  I  could  not  have  chosen  better. 
Sister  Dian  wished  me  to  wait  until  the  wedding  recep- 
tion, which  will  come  oft'  some  time  next  month,  I 
suppose,  before  throwing  open  my  house  for  the  envy 
and  inspection  of  all  comers.  But  by  that  time  my 
eastern  customers  wall  be  oft",  and  I  was  bound  to  show 
them  that  we  Westerners  could  do  up  this  sort  of  thing 
in  as  good  shape  as  they  of  the  older  cities.  How  poor 
Lucy  Sears  would  enjoy  being  here  !  but  then  my  fine- 
lady  sisters  would  either  turn  her  the  cold  shoulder,  or 
show  oft*  her  gentle,  girlish,  winning  ways  in  a  per- 
fectly ridiculous  light ;  for  she  hasn't  Minnie's  ready 
wit  and  never-failing  tact  to  protect  herself  with,  ^o, 
I  have  selected  wisely — Minnie  shall  rule  here  in  the 
high  position  nature  has  so  well  qualified  her  to  fill, 
and  Lucy  I  will  persuade  to  friendship.  Dear,  credu- 
lous child,  she  listens  to  me  as  though  I  were  an  oracle, 
and  never  gainsays  any  word  of  mine.  I  shall  have 
no  difficulty  in  prevailing  upon  her  to  relinquish  the 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  RIFLES.  11 

claims  she  must  now  learn  to  look  upon  as  null  and 
void." 

A  distinguislied-looking  foreigner,  whose  silk  net 
sasli  with  bullion  fringe,  gold-bordered  shoulder-straps, 
and  the  silver-embroidered  spread  eagles  thereupon, 
denoted  Iris  official  rank  in  the  Federal  army,  came  up 
to  solicit  Miss  Brandon's  hand  for  the  German. 

"  By  Jove,  she  is  splendid,"  thought  Mr.  Caruthers, 
as,  with  courteous  ease,  she  accepted  the  honor  with  an 
air  which  seemed  to  intimate  that  she  was  conferring 
an  equal  honor  in  return.  '^  I  suppose  it  is  a  conscious- 
ness of  the  high  social  position  to  which  our  union  will 
raise  her  that  makes  her  receive  distinctions  which  would 
drive  any  other  woman  in  the  room  half  out  of  her 
senses  with  delight,  in  this  quiet,  unmoved  fashion. 
"Why,  she  couldn't  be  more  completely  self-composed 
if  she  were  at  home  in  her  father's  shabby-genteel  par- 
lor— horrid  musty  place — scantily  furnished  in  every- 
thing but  books ;  they  are  plentiful  enough  in  all  con- 
science ;  books  in  cases,  books  on  shelves,  books  on 
tables,  books  on  slabs,  books  in  chairs,  and  books  on 
the  floor.  Whatever  a  man  wants  to  stultify  himself 
for,  with  bolting  such  a  lot  of  dead  men's  dust 
passes  my  poor  comprehension.  The  clear,  running 
stream  of  thought,  fresh  from  living  minds,  for  me.  I 
want  to  read  the  look  of  a  man's  eye,  and  to  watch  the 
turn  of  his  face  when  talking,  that  I  may  see  if  he  is 
speaking  me  true,  or  only  trying  to  start  me  off  on  a 
false  trail  for  purposes  of  his  own ;  and  these ^  signs  of 
what  one  is  really  thinking  is  just  what  print  hides, 
and  that  is  why  I  care  precious  little  about  it,  save  as 
an  advertising  and  news  medium.  But,  heigho !  this 
is  not  entertaining  my  company.  I  must  stir  round 
and  get  up  some  sort  of  small  talk  to  suit  each  one.  I 
shall  be  thankful  when  it  is  over,  for  if  I  didn't 
know  it  was  pleasure,  I  should  say  that  this  laying 


12 


THE   EIVAL   TOLUNTEEES;    OE, 


one's  self  out  to  amuse  folks  one  wishes  at  tlie  bottom 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  be  hanged  to  'em,  is  more  like 
downright  drudgery  than  anything  I've  come  across  in 
counting-room  or  warehouse  for  many  a  day." 

If  the  success  of  an  entertainment  is  to  be  gauged  by 
the  apparent  enjoyment  it  confers  on  its  partakei-s,  then 
was  tiiis  of  Mr.  Caruthers  an  unequivocal  success. 

''  I  hope  the  evening  has  been  a  pleasant  one  to  you," 
he  said  to  Minnie  Brandon,  as  lie  handed  her  to  the 
carriage  he  had  placed  at  her  disposal. 

*' Perfectly  delightful,"  was  the  prompt  and  animated 
response. 

Soon  the  environs — I  cannot  say  suburbs,  for  in  these 
comparatively  new  western  cities  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion between  crowded  dwellings  and  untamed  wilds  is 
often  clearly  and  sharply  detined,  instead  of  being  mel- 
lowed and  toned  down  by  gradual  process  of  suburban 
outgrowtli — of  the  town  were  reached,  and  a  drive  of 
several  miles  brought  her  in  front  of  a  large,  low,  ramb- 
ling cottage,  so  irregularly  designed  that  it  gave  one 
the  idea  of  having  been  built  piecemeal,  and  dovetailed 
together  by  clumsy  devices  in  the  form  of  mortised 
roof  and  gabled  projections.  With  springy,  elastic  step 
she  hurried  across  the  entry  into  the  room  where  a  man., 
crowned  with  the  venerable  locks  of  age,  awaited  her 
return. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  have  kept  you  up  so  late,  father ;  but 
I  was  so  enchanted  with  the  charming  gaities  of  the 
evening,  that  I  could  not  tear  myself  away  sooner. 
Such  delicious  music  under  a  little  awning  just  outside 
the  canvas  pavilion  erected  purposely  for  the  dancers, 
and  entered  from  the  drawing-room  thi'ough  the  open 
French  windows.  I  must  sliow  you  over  the  house 
some  day ;  the  paintings  and  the  statuary  in  marble  and 
bronze  you  will  find  well  worth  looking  at.  But  I  have 
not  yet  shown  you  the  crowning  proof  of  Mr.  Caruthers' 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  13 

princely  mnnificence ;  behold  his  latest  gift  to  one  whom 
he  clelighteth  to  honor." 

She  threw  off  her  silken  xxir-dessus^  and  with  tri- 
umphant air  courted  her  father's  critical  inspection. 

''A  costly  gift,  indeed,"  he  coldly  remarked  ;  '' dia- 
monds in  Etruscan  setting  of  rare  design." 

"Yes;  necklace,  cross,  ring  and  yni.  Those  pokey 
Pike  girls,  who  never  let  pass  an  opportunity  for  givino- 
me  a  slight  or  an  affront  when  I  was  meet  recipient  for 
such  amiable  attentions',  were  half  dead  with  q\\\j  in 
their  poor  cameoes  and  corals." 

A  look  of  mild  reproof  stole  to  the  face  of  Mr.  Bran- 
don, whose  white  clerical  neck-tie  sufficiently  indicated 
the  profession  he  had  long  since  resigned  in  favor  of  the 
repose  befitting  his  declining  years  and  congenial  to  his 
studious  habits. 

"  I  am  sorry,  Minnie,  to  hear  you  use  language  so 
strongly  savoring  of  petty  malice ;  the  ornaments  of  a 
me.ek  and  quiet  spirit  far  outbalance  " • 

"  Please  don't,  father  ;  my  spirits  are  so  light,  that  I 
am  like  a  butterfly  in  the  sunshine,  and  I  cannot  bear 
a  breath  of  chill." 

"But  the  chilling  breath  of  trial  will  come,  dear 
child  ;  worse  than  tliat,  the  fierce  blast  and  the  howl- 
ing tempest ;  it  is  the  tender  plumaged  butterflv  wings 
that  are  soonest  bruised  and  torn  in  misfortune's  ra^ino- 
gale."  "^    "" 

Her  face  clouded  for  an  instant,  but  as  quickly 
brightened  again. 

"  You  have  often  told  me,  father,  that  of  all  species 
of  borrowing,  the  one  in  which  trouble  constitutes  the 
loan  from  the  future  is  the  most  profitless ;  so  I  v/iil 
bask  in  the  sunshine  till  the  clouds  gather  and  actually 
break  over  my  poor  head." 

She  removed  the  flower-wreath  from  her  amber 
tresses,  and   began  untwisting  tho   slender   wire  that 


14r  THE    RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

bound  rosebuds,  heath  and  fuschias  to  the  tiny  stalk  of 
myrtle  which  had  held  them  in  durance  sweet.  One  by 
one,  she  placed  the  detached  florets  in  a  shallow,  crim- 
son glass,  remarking  : 

''  I  shall  press  them,  in  order  to  preseiwe  some  re- 
membrance of  the  happy  hours  that  have  sped  all  too 
fleetly.  Another  very  pleasant  association  is  also  con- 
nectjed  witli  this  wreath.  Miss  Dian  Caruthers,  under 
pretence  of  arranging  a  loosened  sprig  of  mignonette, 
pinned  this  to  my  shoulder." 

The  speaker  lianded  him  a  blue  satin  star,  fringed 
with  red,  on  whicli  was  wrought  in  letters  of  pearl, 
"  Star  of  the  Evening." 

"  The  tribute  was  so  grateful  to  me,"  she  added, 
"  because  it  tended  to  prove  that  the  family  are  not 
averse  to  his  marrying  one  so  much  his  inferior  in  for- 
tune and  social  position  as  myself.  Tliink  of  it,  father, 
as  soon  as  he  can  get  out  of  business  and  settle  up  afi'airs 
connected  with  it,  we  are  to  spend  a  couple  of  years 
abroad.  I  shall  see  St.  Peter's  marvellous  dome,  the 
bronzes  of  Benvenuto  Cellini,  the  arches  of  Augustus 
and  Trajan,  with  all  the  glories  of  old-world  art,  about 
whicli  I  have  so  often  read  to  you.  But  I  must  away 
to  bed  if  I  would  be  rested  for  the  drive  Mr.  Caruthers 
has  promised  me  to-morrow,  with  the  dashing  pair  of 
bays  he  has  just  purchased.     Good  night." 

Once  in  her  own  room,  she  removed  the  brilliants 
from  neck  and  arm,  replacing  them  in  the  ebony  casket 
which  had  held  them  at  presentation.  Then  withdraw- 
in  o-  the  glittering  jewels,  she  drew  them  across  her  dainty 
palm  with  light,  caressing  motion,  a  dewy  lustre  in  her 
half-veiled  eyes,  on  her  parted  lips  a  joyous  smile ; 
giving  little  thought  to  the  value  of  the  gems  at  Avhich 
she  gazed,  prizing  them  chiefly  for  the  regard  which 
had  prompted  their  bestowal. 

"  To  no  other  person  in  the  wide  world  would  he 


THE   BLACK   PLU3IE   RIFLES.  15 

offer  gifts  like  these,"  slie  mentally  assured  herself.  "  I 
will  strive,  by  all  means,  to  make  myself  worthy  of  a 
devotion  so  freely  given  on  his  part,  on  mine  so  little 
deserved.  I  will  improve  myself,  store  my  mind  with 
themes^  for  discourse,  both  grave  and  gay,  that  he  may 
never  tire  of  his  choice." 

Li  a  totally  diverse  channel  flowed  the  perturbed 
stream  of  her  father's  cogitations  below  stairs. 

"  Is  the  girl  bewitched,"  he  asked  himself,  with  puz- 
zled air,  "  that  her  simple,  refined  tastes  should  so  sud- 
denly give  place  to  this  feverish  thirst  for  di'ess  and 
display  ?  She  used  to  be  a  sensible,  intelligent  com- 
panion for  me,  reading  and  talking  of  what  she  read 
understandingly ;  but  now  she  is  "constantly  running 
after  some  novelty  or  other,  and  there  is  no  repose 
about  her.  Can  it  be  possible  that  a  commouplace, 
matter-of-fact  man  like  Mr.  Caruthers,  whose  reading 
list  is  principally  comprised  in  day-book  and  ledger, 
can  have  turned  a  head  like  hers  ?  Well,  more  absurd 
things  than  that  have  happened  in  this  odd  world  of 
ours,  where  the  flimsiest  fallacies  often  shut  out  the 
light  of  truth  from  our  dim,  uncertain  vision.  I  tliiuk 
if  one  studies  one's  self  to  good  purpose,  one  grows 
more  lenient  to  others'  foibles  as  one  grows  old.  If 
Minnie  is  happy  in  her  enchanted  air-castle,  why  should 
I  seek  to  tumble  it  about  her  ears  ?  It  does  seem  hard, 
now  that  she  is  all  I  have  left,  to  see  her  interest  so 
entirely  absorbed  in  a  comparative  stranger,  while  my 
preferences  are  no  longer  consulted  nor  even  remem- 
bered. I  shall  not  so  much  as  hint  a  remonstrance, 
however,  for  I  have  not  yet  forgotten  the  burning  resent- 
ment arising  from  my  interference  with  her  eld'cr  sister's 
matrimonial  plans.  Poor  Susan,  she  would  have  thrown 
herself  away  on  a  smooth-tongued  dissembler,  so  devoid 
of  all  sense  of  moral  propriety  as  to  make  his  boasts  of 
the  mean  imderhanded  practices  by  which  he  had  bam- 


16  THE   EIVAL  Y0LU2S-TEERS  ;    OR, 

boozled  and  defrauded  everybody  with  whom  he  had 
had  any  dealings.  AVhen  I  strove  to  save  her  from  a 
fiite  so  wretched,  she  resolutely  refused  to  see  my  con- 
duct in  any  other  light  than  tliat  of  an  unnatural  parent, 
wdio  Avitli  cruel  malignity  thwarted  her  must  clicrislied 
wishes.  I  forbade  young  Makepeace  crossing  my 
threshold,  and  she  met  him  by  stealth.  I  explained  to 
her  the  real  character  of  the  man  as  the  ground  of  my 
objection  to  ber  union  with  him.  He  told  her  that  I 
despised  and  persecuted  him  on  account  of  his  humble 
calling,  thus  establishing  a  fresh  claim  on  her  ready 
sympatbies.  She  inherited  a  tendency  to  pulmonary 
complaint,  and  I  noticed  with  alarm  her  slight,  hacking 
cougb,  and  tbe  too  vivid  flush  on  her  cheek.  1  sent  ber 
up  to  Lake  Superior  for  the  benefit  of  change.  What 
did  he  do  but  engage  himself  to  work  in  one  of  the 
copper  mines,  and  contrive  to  see  her  daily  !  Then  the 
sterling  integrity  of  her  better  nature  asserted  itself. 
Sbe  awoke  to  a  clear  consciousness  of  her  own  delin- 
quency in  tbe  systematic  course  of  deception  she  had 
been  practising  toward  me,  came  straight  home,  con- 
fessed all,  blaming  herself  so  much  that  I  couldn't  have 
added  a  word  of  censure  if  my  life  had  depended  on  it, 
wound  up  by  declaring  that  she  could  die  if  need  be, 
but  that  no  wrong  should  come  to  any  one  through  her 
means,  and  fell  swooning  at  my  feet.  I  could  see  that 
she  grew  thinner  every  day  after  that,  and  as  a  forlorn 
hope,  determined  to  try  and  prevail  on  Makepeace  to 
so  far  modify  bis  course  of  life,  that  I  could  tolerate  him 
as  a  son-in-law.  I  found  him  in  a  yacht  on  the  lake  in 
company  with  a  wealtliy  Chicago  banker  and  his  only 
child,  a  beautiful  and  accomplished  girl.  My  words  of 
warning  and  counsel  the  young  man  heeded  no  more 
than  tlie  idle  wind.  I  couldn't  get  hold  of  him,  for  he 
seemed  entirely  destitute  of  that  moral  sense  whicb  dis- 
criminates between  right  and  wroiig.     '  You  must  look 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   TIFLES. 


17 


sharp  after  Su&an,'  said  he,  without  seeming  to  be 
aware  of  his  own  insolence,  as  we  parted,  '  for  she  is 
yerv  impulsive  and  susceptible,  and  if  she  should  be 
guilty  with  others,  of  conduct  as  imprudent  and  indis- 
creet\^s  that  she  has  shown  toward  me,  she  would  cer- 
tainly be  talked  about,  l^ot  that  I  shall  ever  betray 
her ;  you  surely  do  not  think  so  ill  of  me  as  to  appre- 
hend any  step  of  that  sort  on  my  part.' 

''  I  was  choking  with  rage,  and  could  have  knocked 
the  puppy  down  with  a  will.  '  If  you  wish  to  blazon 
the  fact  of  having  won  a  trusting  girl's  affections,'  said 
I,  'under  false  pretences  of  being  what  you  are  not,  a 
true  and  honest  man  ;  and  to  state  furthermore  that  as 
goon  as  your  baseness  became  thoroughly  known  you 
was  forbidden  her  father's  premises,  set  about  it  as  soon 
as  you  like,  thus  affording  fresh  evidence,  if  such  were 
needed,  to  prove  you  the  "despicable  double-dealer  you 
are.'  '  I'd  no  idea  a  clergyman  of  your  experience  ever  so 
far  foro;ot  his  principles  as  to  let  his  temper  run_  away 
with  him  in  this  highly  unclerical  fashion,'  said  the 
irreverent  scoffer.  I  let  the  remark  pass  without  reply, 
and  we  have  never  changed  words  since.  He  married 
the  banker's  daughter,  squandered  her  fortune,  and  then 
deserted  her.  A  costly  monolith  marks  the  little  space 
of  earth  which  is  all  she  now  needs ;  but  her  rest  is  not 
sweeter  than  that  of  my  poor  girl  beneath  the  village 

sod. 

"  How  my  thoughts  linger  over  the  past,  because  the 
present  is  such  a  blank,  I  suppose.  Come  here,  Omer, 
doo- :  you  are  about  the  best  friend  a  man  could  have 
after  all.  'Never  longing  to  be  gone  when  I  want 
you  beside  me,  and  never  obtruding  when  you're  not 
wanted.  Watching  me,  with  drowsy,  half-closed  eyes, 
while  I  read  ;  sober  when  I'm  sad,  frolicsome  when  I'm 
glad :  I'd  rather  part  with  half  my  acquaintances  than 
with  you,  dumb  friend." 


18  T^E   RIVAL   YOLUNTEERS;    OK, 

CHAPTEE    II. 

IN   TEE   SHADE. 

PuxcTTArLT  at  the  appointed  hour,  'Mr.  Caruthers' 
inettlesome  bays,  attached  to  a  light,  open  buggy,  drew 
up  in  front  of  Mr.  Brandon's  cottage.  Minnie,  looking 
as  fresh  and  blooming  as  though  she  had  not  danced 
half  the  previous  night,  was  quickly  seated  in  the  vehi- 
cle. Rapidly  they  spun  over  the  road,  space  swiftly 
devoured  by  the  nimble-footed  steeds,  until  a  half  score 
of  miles  intervened  betwee^i  them  and  their  starting- 
place.  The  panting  horses  slackened  their  pace  on 
reaching  a  steep  acclivity,  whfen  the  sharp  rattle  of 
musketry,  and  the  drums'  measured  roll,  became  dis- 
tinctly audible.  Mr.  Caruthers  and  his  companion 
exchanged  startled,  significant  glances. 

"A  parade,  possibly,"  he  suggested,  his  look  contradict- 
ing his  words ;  "  we  will  soon  find  out  what  is  going  on." 

Quickening  the  speed  of  his  horses  by  a  gesture  of 
the  hand,  they  soon  reached  the  summit  of  the  ridge. 

"  Xo  mock  fighting  here,"  he  exclaimed.  ^'  An  en- 
gagement between  our  forces  and  those  of  the  enemy." 

Minnie  turned  deadly  pale. 

''  See  the  drivers  of  vehicles  galloping  their  horses 
down  the  road  ;  let  us  follow  their  example,  and  fly  too, 
while  we  may." 

*'  Don't  alarm  yourself,  child.  Tliey  have  no  artillery 
that  I  can  see ;  and  even  if  they  had,  we  are  so  much, 
higher  than  those  long  double  lines  of  men,  warring  with 
each  other  to  the  death,  that  we  are  beyond  reach  of 
harm.  We  may  never  again  find  opportunity  to  look 
on  a  scene  like  this." 

"  Let  us  not  look  on  it  now.    It  makes  my  blood  run 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFUES.  19 

cold,  this  wholesale  slaughter ;  it  is  no  sight  for  a  weak 
woman's  eyes." 

He  darted  an  impatient  glance  at  the  wan,  imploring 
face  raised  so  entreatingly  to  his  own. 

"  I  wish  we  had  come  in  the  close  carriage,  and  then 
I  could  have  sent  you  off  in  charge  of  the  coachman. 
Were  you  ever  afflicted  with  that  fearful  feminine  visi- 
tation known  as  hysterics  ?" 

A  glowing  tinge  of  red  flashed  to  her  cheek. 

"  Never,  Mr.  Caruthers.  I  will  remain  since  you 
desire  it." 

"  That  is  right.  I  am  glad  to  see  you  act  as  though 
you  were  gifted  with  at  least  some  small  modicum  of 
common  sense,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  many 
of  your  sex  (he  bowed,  as  though  conscious  of  having 
bestowed  a  merited  compliment).  Your  eyes  are  younger 
and  clearer  than  mine ;  look  over  the  plain  and  tell  me 
which  are  our  men." 

'^  Those  at  the  right  or  easterly  side  of  the  field,  which 
slopes  gradually  backward  to  the  treacherous  marsh  in 
which  it  loses  itself.  How  the  smoke- wi-eaths  curl  about 
the  stars  and  stripes,  glorious  emblem  of  the  nation's 
greatness,  hereafter  doubly  sacred,  doubly  dear,  since  so 
many  eyes  beloved  have  glazed  in  death's  films  while 
guarding  from  stain  of  dishonor  the  hallowed  emblem, 
consecrated  by  the  baptism  of  fire  through  which  our 
fathers  passed,  in  order  to  bequeath  us  a  legacy  so  price- 
less as  that  it  symbolizes." 

'*  Don't  stop  to  talk  of  that  now.  Has  either  side 
gained  the  advantage,  can  you  see  ?" 

"  I  can  see  better  than  I  can  describe.  Skirmishers 
seem  more  active  just  now  than  those  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle.  Hark !  what  means  that  shrill,  imperative 
bugle-note?  It  must  be  a  signal,  for  the  scattering 
troops  rally  in  column ;  and  now  comes  a  perfect  blaze 
of  musketry  along  the  entire  lines.     Ah!  here  comes 


20  THE  r.ivAL  volunteers;  oe, 

one  "wlio  can  tell  von  much  better  than  I  the  progress 
of  atfairs." 

Mr.  Caruthers  turned  to  speak  to  Colonel  Yanburgh,  a 
meritorious  officer,  who  had  retired  from  active  service 
with  honorable  scars  and  honorable  mention,  and  who 
now  hobbled  up  on  crutches  to  the  side  of  the  vehicle. 

^'  How  goes  the  tide  of  success  below  ?"  asked  Mr. 
Caruthers. 

"  Let  me  take  in  all  the  bearings  of  the  case  and  you 
shall  have  my  opinion  for  what  it  is  worth,"  calmly 
responded  the  new  comer,  seating  himself  at  the  foot  of 
a  tree,  and  sweeping  the  prospect  w4th  a  powerful  pocket- 
glass. 

''I  should  say  they  are  about  equally  matched  as 
regards  numbers.  The  enemy  are  plucky  and  impetu- 
ous ;  but  our  men  are  firm  as  a  rock,  and  stand  fire  bet- 
ter than  could  be  expected  from  those  so  lately  but  raw 
recruits.  They  are  gradually  lessening  the  space,  too, 
between  themselves  and  the  foe,  leaving  the  wounded 
in  their  rear,  to  be  picked  up  and  cared  for  by  the  sur- 
geons and  their  assistants." 

"  Leaving,  also,"  sighed  Minnie,  through  her  tears, 
'•  many  a  fallen,  nameless  hero,  who  has  gone  nobly  to  a 
patriot's  doom,  and  no  longer  needs  even  our  pity  ;  but 
Heaven  grant  the  balm  of  consolation  to  the  stricken 
hearts  that,  in  speechless  sorrow,  mourn  at  home,  in 
utter  desolation  of  spirit,  the  loved  and  lost !" 

"  Brava  !"  shouted  the  colonel,  tossing  his  cap  in  the 
air  in  the  exuberance  of  approving  delight ;  "  our  lines 
are  taking  the  double-quick — the  attacking  force  has 
always  the  advantage  when  it  comes  to  close  quarters. 
Charge  bayonet  !"  he  shouted,  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
one  familiar  with  said  charge. 

Suddenly  his  gladness  was  changed  into  desolation. 

''  Ten  thousand  perditions !"  he  milttered,  hoarsely, 
replacing  his  cap  with  an  air  of  profound  chagrin,  "  our 


THE   BLACK   PLUIilE   EIFLES.  21 

guards  ought  not  to  let  them  fall  into  a  trap  of  this  sort. 
Perhaps  the  guards  are  not  to  blame.  There's  a  signal 
from  bngle  and  drum,  and  there  goes  an  aide  from  the 
general's  staif  to  the  battalions  in  reserve.  It  is  alniost 
more  than  flesh  and  blood  can  bear  to  pause  in  the  midst 
of  a  brilliant  charge  that  was  nearly  sure  to  rout  the 
enemy,  and  fall  back  to  their  former  position.  They 
do  so  in  good  order,  that's  one  comfort." 

"  But  why  should  they  fall  back  just  as  victory  was 
to  crown  their  efforts  ?"  sharply  queried  Mr.  Caruthers. 

"  Can't  you  see,  man,  those  regiments  of  infantry 
marching  to  the  relief  of  the  enemy  ?"  somewhat  tartly 
responded  the  colonel.  "  I'm  afraid  that  isn't  the  worst 
we  have  to  dread,  either,  unless  my  wits  are  much  at 
fault.  There  is  some  mischief  brewing  behind  that 
scanty  belt  of  pines  skirting  the  hill  at  the  opposite  side 
of  the  field  ;  if  I  were  only  a  little  higher  up  I  should  be 
able  to  make  it  out.  If  my  broken  leg,  that  never  healed 
rightly  from  want  of  proper  care,  wasn't  such  a  disability, 
I'd  climb  this  dead  pine  and  settle  my  doubts  one  way 
or  the  other.  I  will  climb  it,  if  I'm  a  knock-kneed  crip- 
ple forever  after  ;  there  will  be  plenty  of  the  same  sort 
to  keep  me  company  before  the  sun  goes  down,  or  I  am 
far  out  in  my  calculations." 

He  tossed  his  crutches  aside,  and  after  more  than  one 
futile  eflbrt,  succeeded  in  attaining  the  required  alti- 
tude, and  with  it  the  view  for  which  it  had  been  under- 
taken. 

''Pluto  and  purgatory!  it  is  just  as  I  feared,"  he 
called  out  from  his  new  post  of  observation,  "  cannons, 
caissons  and  all,  protected  by  an  efiicient  guard.  There, 
they  have  planted  their  battery  in  the  place  of  all  places 
where  it  can  do  us  most  harm.  There  it  booms,  a 
deadly,  disastrous,  enfilading  fire,  that  makes  our  brave 
fellows  bite  the  dust  in  numbers,  it  makes  a  tough  old 
veteran  sicken  to  think  of  reckoning.     There  comes  a 


22  THK   EIVAX   Y0LUXTEER8  ;    OB, 

fresh  shower  of  grape  and  shrapnell,  and  the  color-guard 
has  not  escaped  scathless.  The  flag  wavers  in  unsteady 
hands.  Cheer  up,  comrades,  never  let  those  glorious 
folds  dip  to  traitorous  rebel  foe.  There  thev  float,  the 
stars  and  stripes,  free  to  the  breeze  once  more.  Our 
lines  are  in  confusion ;  ther  break,  fall  back,  leaving  the 
ground  strewn  with  the  dead  and  the  dving ;  re-form, 
strengthen  themselves  by  alignment  of  battalions  in 
reserve,  and  once  more  show  the  enemy  a  bold,  deter- 
mined front.  There  go  a  couple  of  the  general's  aids, 
who  ride  as  if  life  and  death  depended  on  their  speed. 
I  foresee  their  purpose.  You  are  right,  General  Seit- 
zel,  better  sacritice  five  hundred  of  the  very  flower  of 
your  army  in  capturing  that  battery,  than  to  have  your 
ranks  jnown  down  in  this  way.  Away  go  the  detach- 
ment of  "infantry  into  the  very  jaws  of  death  on  their 
desperate  venture.  Doomed,  doomed!  they  know  not 
the  strength  of  the  force  against  wliich  they  are  j^itted. 
"What  boots  it  that  tliej^  form  into  line  in  separate 
divisions  so  as  to  avoid  the  cannons'  shot  and  shell,  when 
a  more  dreadful  foe  lurks  for  them  in  ambush  !  Now 
they  are  so  near  that  the  cannon's  angle  of  elevation 
hurls  its  missiles  over  their  heads.  How  eagerly  they 
press  fo^'ward,  believing  an  easy  victory  almost  won. 
Suddenly  from  the  underbrush  fronting  the  battery 
springs  up  a  rebel  regiment,  discharging  a  volley  of 
musketry  full  in  the  faces  of  our  advancing  troops. 
That  is  right,  my  men,  flee,  scatter,  never  risk  a  bayonet 
charge  from  an  exultant  foe,  when  you  are  confused  by 
an  unexpected  assault,  and  inclined  to  panic  through 
heavy  loss.  Xow  pluck  up  good  heart,  and  start  fair 
and  fresh  once  more,  but  not  as  quarry  for  the  craven 
brood  that  still  infests  the  brushwood.  Make  a  circuit 
in  small  force  to  the  open  :>pace  at  the  rear  of  the  bat- 
tery, cutting  down  all  opposition  in  the  way,  leaving 
the  main  body  to  occupy  the  enemy  by  feints  of  attack 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  23 

in  front.  The  deed  is  done,  the  gunners  silenced,  the 
battery  in  our  possession,  and  a  fierce  hand-to-hand 
conflict  raging  between  the  two  regiments." 

"  What  of  the  main  engagement  in  the  plain  below  ?" 
asked  Mr.  Caruthers. 

"  Nothing  but  disaster  there ;  a  terrific  bayonet 
charge,  in  which  our  men  are  borne  down  by  "sheer 
brute  force  of  superior  numbers.  They  yield  the  ground, 
step  by  step,  each  one  obstinately  contested  at  countless 
cost.  This  will  never  do  ;  there  is  such  a  thing  as  car- 
rying bravery  to  the  extent  of  foolhardy  bravado.  "Why 
will  they  not  sm-render  when  the  odds  are  so  fearfully 
against  them  ?  Will  they  w^ait  to  be  forced  back  into 
that  bog,  and  killed  to  the  last  man  ?" 

"  Let  us  go  ;  it  is  half  killing  me,"  entreated  Minnie, 
shaking  from  head  to  foot,  her  face  blanched  to  the  very 
lips  with  an  ashen  pallor. 

'^  You  need  have  no  fear,"  returned  Mr.  Caruthers ; 
"  I  assure  you  there  is  not  the  least  occasion ;  we  are 
quite  beyond  range  of  the  artillery,  and  there  isn't  the 
slightest  cause  for  alarm ;  you  can't  be  hurt,  make 
yourself  perfectly  at  ease  on  that  point." 

"Without  an  added  word  of  protest,  she  shut  out  the 
scenes  of  ghastly  carnage  that  thrilled  her  weak, 
womanly  nerves  with  acutest  anguish,  by  burying  her 
face  in  her  handkerchief.  She  was  roused  from  the 
aching  sense  of  misery  that  had  wrought  her  keenly 
sympathetic  nature  to  its  highest  point  of  intensity,  by 
a  jubilant  shout  from  Colonel  Yanburgh. 

"Here  they  come  at  last;  just  what  we  need,  a 
powerful  body  of  well-mounted  cavalry.  On,  hearts  of 
oak,  on  to  the  rescue,  before  the  bodies  and  souls  that 
still  hold  together  have  parted  company.  How  like  a 
whirlwind  they  thunder  down  that  rolling  slope,  hurl- 
ing themselves  with  resistless  fury  upon  the  enemy's 
right,  which,  with  the  reserve  in  echelon,  forms  into 


24:  THE    KIYAL   VOLU^sTEERS  ;    OE, 

square  to  receive  them.  Tlie  liorses — noble  beasts,  I 
can  pity  and  admire  them,  while  glorying  still  more  ia 
the  daring  and  gallantry  of  their  noble  riders — obey 
curb  and  spur  to  a  nicety,  and  dash,  without  sign  of 
fear,  upon  the  bristling  wall  of  bayonets  that  will^leave 
many  of  them  battered  hulks  to  feed  carrion  crows  and 
breed  pestilence  in  the  air. 

"  There  comes  as  brave  a  man  as  is  to  be  found  in  our 
ranks,  young  Stanwood,  staff  officer,  who  never  knew 
what  it  was  to  fear  mortal  man  ;  charged  with  orders  of 
importance,  I'd  willingly  lay  wager,  or  he'd  never  ride 
that  splendid  bhick  charger  of  his  at  such  a  break-neck 
gallop  as  to  make  the  white  foam  fly  from  his  lips  and 
churn  out  from  his  saddle-girths.  Evidently  he  seeks 
to  communicate  with  cavalry  official,  or  he  would  not 
thus  expose  himself  in  advance  of  our  lines.  Crack  I 
there  goes  a  rifle  shot  from  behind  a  vine-covered  paling, 
and  the  horse's  chest  is  crimson  with  gore ;  a  second, 
and  this  time  it  is  the  rider  Avho  is  hit.  Malignant  fate, 
to  shield  him  from  whizzing  bullet  and  bursting  shell, 
and  then  yield  him  inglorious  prey  to  the  lurking  assas- 
sin's fatal  aim.  The  order- bearer  reels  in  his  saddle, 
but  still  keeps  a  firm  hold  of  the  bridle-rein.  He  will 
die  like  the  dauntless  hero  he  would  have  lived,  ready 
to  give  his  last  breath  jn  his  country's  service,  straining 
every  nerve  to  fulfill  the  commission  intrusted  to  his 
charge.  It  is  not  thus  decreed.  He  is  under  higher 
orders  than  those  of  his  commanding  general  now.  The 
reins  fall  from  his  loosened  grasp ;  his  head  bends  for- 
ward until  his  plumed  hat  nearly  touches  his  horse's 
neck.  He  has  lost  all  control  over  the  animal,  which, 
leaps  and  plunges,  maddened  with  pain.  It  rears  on  its 
hind  legs,  beating  the  air  wildl}^  with  its  front  hoofs, 
then  partially  loses  balance,  is  almost  down,  staggers  to 
its  feet,  makes  a  single  spring  forward,  and  falls  heavily, 
a  dead,  crushing  weight,  upon  its  luckless  rider.     Poor 


THE    B7.ACK    PLUiir,    EIFLEa.  25 

Stanwoocl,  puro  pfitriot,  iinflincliing  supporter  of  a  holy 
cause,  would  I  were  near  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in 
this  jonr  hour  of  direful  need  ;  to  aid  in  phicing  you 
whej'C  your  last  breath  shouhl  not  be  quenched  in  suf- 
focation." 

'-  Peace,  poor,  tortured  soul !"  murmured  Minnie,  in 
reverent,  awe-struck  tones,  her  dim  eyes  blinded  by 
unshed  tears;  "Heaven's  benison  be  thine,  since  earthly 
succor  is  not  for  thee." 

"It  is  now  the  enemy's  turn  to  cower,  their  own  bat- 
tery turned  against  them,"  called  out  their  inlbrmant 
from  the  dead  pine,  in  tone  once  more  raised  to  pitch 
exultant.  "  Their  lines  are  in  confusion  ;  they  break  and 
flee  in  disorder,  pursued  by  our  cavalry  and  light  troops, 
the  others  only  waiting  to  restore  order  in  their  columns 
before  hurrying  off  in  the  same  direction.  Here  come 
medical  directors  with  hospital  attendants  and  ambu- 
lances, which  will  all  be  needed.  Men  crawl  dovrn  from 
trees,  crawl  out  of  pits  and  hollows,  crawl  forth  from 
brier  and  dingle,  staring  warily  about  them.  Why  can- 
not some  of  them  picket  those  riderless  horses,  whose 
every  srep  maims  or  mangles  some  wounded  soldier? 
I'll  hobble  down  to  the  plain  myself;  it  isn't  much  that 
I  can  do,  but  a  kind  word  goes  a  good  way  sometimes. 
I  found  that  out  when  I  lay  half  dead  in  a  Mexican 
lazaretto.  There  were  none  but  glum,  scovrling  faces 
about  me,  excepting  that  of  a  gaunt  old  chore-woman, 
whom  I  made  twenty  excuses  a  day  to  see;  for,  though 
she  was  homely  enough  in  all  conscience,  she  was  the 
only  living  creature  from  whom  I  received  a  look  or 
word  of  compassion,  and  it  is  like  the  horror  of  soli- 
tary confinement  to  l3e  deprived  of  that." 

With  some  difficulty  he  came  down  from  his  post  of 
observation,  and  picking  uj)  his  crutches,  laboriously 
^commenced  the  descent  of  the  hill,  Mr.  Caruthers  cau- 
tiously following,  and  eyeing  with  distrust  every  bank 

2 


28  THE    RIVAL   TOLUXTEERS;    OR, 

or  bush  that  miglit  screen  a  stra^^rgler  from  the  scene 
of  the  late  conflict. 

''  What  alls  yon,  child  ?"  asked  the  limping  pedestrian, 
of  a  little  "boy  vritli  a  tin  pail  on  his  arm,  \vho  pressed 
his  hand  to  Ins  forehead,  as  if  giddy  or  sick,  swaying  to 
and  fro,  and  groping  his  way  along  with  wavering,  un- 
certain footsteps. 

''  Mother  sent  me  to  hring  his  dinner  to  father,  who 
has  been  working  on  the  road  ;  but  I  couldn't  find  him, 
and  something  I  didn't  see  struck  me  in  the  side ;  I'm 
liurted  bad." 

The  tin  pail  to  which  he  had  clung  while  strength 
lasted  was  suddenly  dropped.  The  speaker  threw  up 
his  arms,  and  with  a  long  drawn  gasp,  a  single  convul- 
sive shudder,  fell  forward  a  corpse  almost  beneath  the 
wheels  of  tbe  vehicle. 

As  they  neared  the  plain,  sights  and  sounds  of  suffer- 
ing multiplied  about  them.  One  wounded  officer,  fevered 
by  burning  tliirst,  dragged  himself  to  the  edge  of  a  stag- 
nant pool,  and  in  attempting  to  adjust  his  drinking-tube 
in  the  slimy  water  to  filter  the  same  for  use,  lost  his  bal- 
ance and  plunged  incontinently  into  the  oozy  slush, 
which  would  have  proved  his  burial-place  but  for  the 
united  exertions  of  the  colonel  and  a  man  whom  he 
summoned  to  his  aid,  Mr.  Caruthers  never  once  dream- 
ing of  soiling  his  spotless  kids  and  snowy  linen  by  prof- 
fering assistance  on  the  occasion. 

Afair-haired  girl  was  borne  past  on  a  litter  of  boughs ; 
lier  long  lashes  resting  on  her  colorless  cheek;  her 
heavy,  dishevelled  tresses  falling  over  the  pale  blue 
dress,  which  would  flutter  at  heart-beat  of  hers  never 
again. 

"  How  came  she  here  ?"  Mr.  Caruthers  paused  to  in- 
quire. 

"She  was  out  for  a  walk  with  her  betrothed,"  ex-, 
plained,  with  grave  courtesy,  one  of  the  bearers  of  the 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    TvIFLES.  'ST 

rude  trestle ;  '^'^nd  I  suppose  tliev  were  so  miicli  taken 
up  ill  talking  over  plans  for  the  future  as  to  pay  small 
lieed  to  signs  of  approaching  danger  until  escape  from 
it  was  impossible.  Her  intended  husband  belonged  to 
the  Home  Guard,  a  splendid  marksman,  and  when  he 
saw  that  he  had  really  lost  her  for  this  life,  he  instantly 
seized  npon  tbe  mnsket  of  a  dead  soldier,  crying  out, 
'  jSow,  oil  my  bleeding  country !  with  my  wbole  heart 
do  I  esj)ouse  thy  cause,'  and  rushed  into  the  thickest  of 
the  lio'ht." 

Slowly  they  once  more  wended  their  way  onward. 

"Stop  !"  entreated  Minnie,  as  the  pale,  rigid  face  of  a 
young  man  borne  past  on  a  stretcher  riveted  her  gaze, 
'•  tbat  is  Morland  Ellsmead,  do  let  me  get  out  and  take  a 
nearer  look  at  him." 

She  sprang  impulsively  to  her  feet,  and  in  another  in- 
stant v>'ould  have  been  on  the  ground  if  Mr.  Caruthers' 
restraining  grasp  had  not  forced  her  back  to  the  seat 
from  which  she  had  just  risen. 

'•  If  you  wish  any  inquiries  made,  I  will  make  them 
for  you,  if  you  will  oblige  me  by  doing  nothing  to  ren- 
der yourself  conspicuous,"  he  observed,  in  tones  of  cold 
reproval. 

''  But  Morland  is  such  an  old  friend  of  ours,"  she  re- 
monstrated. "  He  was  my  fathers  pupil  once  ;  and  we 
chased  squirrels  in  the  woods,  and  gathered  wild-flowers 
and  nuts  together  when-  we  were  children  and  play- 
mates. He  may  be  dying  now ;  I  'nimt  speak  to  him,  I 
should  never  forgive  myself  if  I  lost  such  an  oj)por- 
tunity." 

Once  more  slie  attempted  to  put  in  practice  the  pur- 
pose her  words  implied,  and  once  more  she  failed  to 
achieve  her  intent. 

''  Understand  me.  Miss  Brandon,"  he  remarked,  in 
freezing  accents  ;  ''  I  have  no  desire  to  see  the  lady  who 
will  one  day  bear  my  name  (a  name  of  as  sterling  weight 


28  THE    niVAL    VOLUXTEEKS;    OR, 

as  the  best  on  'Change) ;  preside  with  grace  and  pro 
priety,  I  liope,  over  a  iionschold  estaViisliment  which, 
for  bounty  and  liberality,  lias  not  in  tlie  whole  city  its 
superior;  and  dispense  with  a  pride  becoming  to  her 
high  station,  but  Avithout  any  of  the  upstart  forwardness 
an\l  atfectations  of  oddity  which  are  so  apt  to  make  the 
conduct  of  those  who  liave  suddenly  been  elevated  from 
the  humbler  to  the  higher  walks  of  life  supremely 
ridiculous" — 

lie  paused  abruptly,  his  speech  arrested  by  a  look  he 
could  not  fathom  from  the  wide-open  eyes  that  were 
looking  straight  into  his. 

"  Wiiat  I  mean  is,  Minnie,"  he  resumed,  with  a  voice 
and  manner  somewhat  modilied,  "  tliat  I  do  not  v/ish  to 
see  one,  whose  fair  name  and  fame  it  will  soon  be  my 
privilege  to  guard,  familiarly  jostled  by  a  motley,  non- 
descript crowd  such  as  is  fast  collecting  here.  A  wo- 
man cannot  pay  too  strict  a  regard  to  appearances,  and 
should  never  overstep  a  conventionality  even,  or  hazard 
the  remotest  chance  of  acquiring  an  unenviable  noto- 
riety." 

To  these  concluding  pLatitudes  Minnie  turned  a  deaf 
ear,  her  whole  attention  being  for  the  moment  concen- 
trated on  the  white,  motionless  face,  shaded  by  curls  of 
chestnut-brown  hair,  that  lay  so  still  and  impassive  be- 
neath her  anxious  gaze.  A  man  standing  near,  super- 
intending the  arrangement  of  cushions  and  blankets 
for  a  sotdier  with  shattered  collar-bone,  noticing  her 
expression  of  eager,  almost  hopeless  incpiiry,  Avitli  de- 
meanor sympathetic  and  respectful,  explained  that  Mr. 
Ellsmead  was  not  wounded,  but  merely  stunned  by  the 
concussion  of  a  spent  ball,  which  had  just  grazed  his 
head  in  its  rebound  from  some  obstruction  in  its  course. 
Minnie  thanked  her  informant  with  grateful  warmth, 
and  Mr.  Caruthers,  jerking  his  reins  impatiently,  urged 
his  steeds  to  a  rapid  pace. 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  29 

"  I  do  wish,  Minnie,"  lie  averred,  in  tone  irascible, 
as  soon  as  they  were  beyond  earshot  of  casual  eaves- 
dropper, "that  yon  wonld  be  a  little  more  retiring  and 
feminine  in  your  deportment  toward  strangers,  especially 
SHch  as  do  not  stand  on  a  footing  of  equality  with  ns. 
After  I  had  oifered  to  make  any  needful  inquiries,  re- 
garding the  young  man  in  whose  fiite  you  manifested 
such  a  remarkable  solicitude,  it  was  in  exceedingly  bad 
taste,  to  say  the  least,  for  you  to  still  persist  in  making 
yourself  the  centre  of  observation  to  such  a  motley- 
throng.  I  wonder  if  a  woman,  with  the  least  pretension 
to  good  looks,  could  be  so  circnmstanced  that  the  vain 
longing  to  show  off  her  attractions  would  not  be  the 
mainspring  to  her  every  act." 

Minnie  turned  on  him  a  glance  in  which  resentment 
was  overborne  by  a  look  of  boundless  surprise. 

"  If  you  think,  Mr.  Caruthers,"  she  returned,  in  tone 
as  cold  and  hard  as  his  own,  "  that  I  am  capable  of 
being  swayed  by  paltry  motive  of  mere  personal  dis- 
play in  the  midst  of  the  agonizing  scenes  through  which 
we  have  jnst  passed,  you  do  me  a  cruel  injustice,  and 
are  far  from  comprehending  my  real  character." 

"  Quite  likely  1  it  is  no  very  transparent  one,"  he 
carelessly  subjoined;  ''and  it  is  sometimes  quite  too 
deep  for  sounding  by  an  out-spoken  man  like  me,  who 
uses  plain  words  to  convey  a  plain,  intelligible  mean- 
ing, and  has  no  need  of  roundabout  ways  and  means  for 
making  himself  understood." 

Minnie  closed  her  eyes  quickly  to  crush  the  tears  that 
had  gathered  beneath  their  lids.  She  was  too  deeply 
wounded  to  venture  any  attempt  at  self-vindication. 
For  miles  the  silence  between  them  remained  unbroken. 
She  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  I  am  deeply  grieved,  Mr.  Caruthers,  that  I  should 
have  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  shock  your  perceptions 
of  what  true  feminine  propriety  requires  of  those  who 


30  THE    RIVAL    VOLUXTEEES  ;    OR, 

aim  to  practice  it ;  the  only  reparation  I  can  malce,  now 
that  I  know  your  views  on  the  subject,  is  to  strive  faith- 
ftilly  to  conform  to  them  in  every  particuUir ;  this  it 
s]iain)e  niv  constant  and  unwearying  eftbrt  to  accom- 
plish." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  has  been  running  in  your  Lead  all 
this  time  f 

"  Had  you  forgotten  it  ?" 

"  Completely :  I  have  more  sober  realities  to  fret 
about.  This  confounded  secession  mania  is  raising 
the  very  deuce  with  business.  WJiat  with  the  blockade, 
barricades,  batteries  and  eartli works,  the  Mississippi  is 
shut  up  tight  as  a  vice — no  outlet  for  bacon  and  corn, 
no  inlet  for  silks  and  wines.  Pardon  me,  this  is  no 
meet  subject  of  discourse  for  a  lady's  ear.  Did  you  un- 
derstand'what  I  was  talking  about?" 

''  Perfectly,  and  thank  you  for  speaking  to  me  as 
though  I  wei-e  a  rational  being,"  she  replied,  with  an  in- 
tonatiun  of  bitterness  that  was  thrown  away  on  his  ob- 
tuse perceptions. 

"Everything  is  at  loggerheads  in  the  mercantile  com- 
munity just  now,"  he  resumed;  *' my  last  champagne 
was  a  villi anously  transparent  sham  ;  the  last  tobacco  I 
bought  for  my  meerschaum  was  enough  to  harrow  a 
man's  soul  up  for  a  whole  day  after  smoking  it;  and 
tea  and  coffee  are  rising  to  an  unprecedentedly  high 
figure — how  w^e  are  to  live  through  such  straits  is  more 
than  I  can  tell.  Where  are  the  dividends  from  my 
railway  shares  coming  from,  with  the  rails  torn  up, 
freight  and  fare  stopped  ?  How  am  I  to  collect  my 
rents,,  with  my  tenants  off  to  the  war,  and  their  fami- 
lies thinking  n-iv)re  of  their  own  seltish  interests  than  of 
paying  my  lawful  dues?  We  have  to  run  after  the  cus- 
toi'ners  who  used  to  run  after  us,  and  half  of  them  aren't 
woi'th  the  trouble  of  cat  chin  o;  at  that — failing  up,  sell 
ing  out  at  a  ruinous  discount,  and  skulking  round,  if 


THE   BLACK    PLUME  EITLES.  31 

jou  refuse  a  dividend  of  five  cents  on  a  dollar,  in  all 
sorts  of  on t-of-tlie-way  lurking  places,  as  hard  to  find  as 
a  needle  in  a  liav-movr.  Xo  very  consoling  fact,  either, 
to  he  told  hy  those  who  know  the  most  of  statecraft  that 
"we  have  hy  no  means  reached  the  crisis  of  the  financial 
pressure  as  yet." 

Once  more  the  speaker  lapsed  into  silence.  They 
were  nearing  the  cottage  when,  bowing  with  air  apolo- 
getic, he  said,  "I  have  left  you  long  to  yonr  own 
tlioughts ;  I  hope  they  have  run  on  pleasanter  themes 
than  mine." 

'•I  was  thinking,"  she  rejoined,  in -wearily  dejected 
tone,  ''what  a  relief  it  was  to  he  told  that  Morland 
Ellsmead  was  only  stunned,  not  dangerously  wounded." 

Mr.  Caruthers  did  not  seem  particularly  gratified  at 
the  intelligence  conveyed  through  this  admission. 

At  the  first  sight  of  his  daughter's  troubled  face,  Mr. 
Brandon  saw  that  the  ]ileasant  anticipations  with  which 
she  had  looked  forward  to  her  drive  had  not  been  real- 
ized. She  gave  him  a  sadly  vristful  glance,  as  seating 
herself  near  him,  she  removed  her  light  Leghorn  hat, 
trifling  abstractedly  with  the  heron's  plume,  which  was 
its  sole  adornment. 

"Our  butterfly  is  not  in  the  sunshine  to-day,"  he 
quietly  remarked. 

"  I  have  looked  on  a  sight,  father,  that  w^ould  make 
murky  clouds  on  the  fairest  sky  that  ever  smiled.  From 
the  top  of  Pine  Hidge  we  witnessed  an  engagement  be- 
tween the  National  and  Confederate  forces.  I  hope  my 
vision  may  never  be  blasted  by  such  another  sight." 

''Which  side  "was  victorious?" 

"  Ours ;  but  only  after  a  severe  repulse,  which  must 
have  resulted  in  utter  defeat,  we  were  so  greatly  out- 
numbered by  the  enemy,  but  for  the  opportune  arrival 
of  reinforcenients.  When  our  men,  horse  and  foot,  had 
driven  the  foe  from  the  field,  we  drove  slowlv  across  it. 


32  THE   KIYAL  YOLUNTEEES  ;    OR, 

The  faces  of  the  dead  I  saw  Avore  a  peculiar  livid  ex- 
pression, the  resiiU,  I  think,  of  the  fatal  o^un-shot  wonnd3 
through  which  life's  tide  had  ebbed  ;  it  was  so  unlike 
the  look  of  calm,  placid  repose  of  my  mothers  face 
when  1  strewed  liowers  on  lier  pillow,  knowing  that  to 
their  lovely  tints  she  was  blind,  that  through  earthly 
sense  the  sweetness  of  their  perfume  could  not  reach 
her,  and  yet,  urged  on  by  a  feeling  I  could  riot  over- 
come, and  would  not  if  I  could,  that  she  did  somehow 
recognize  and  appreciate  these  last  tributes  of  filial  love 
it  was  in  my  power  to  render  unto  her.  What  a  sad 
house  was  ours  for  the  first  year  after  she  left  us.  I 
could  not  see  a  sable  pall  or  a  funeral  lU'ocession  with- 
out my  eyes  being  blinded  by  tears.  I  thought  of  so 
many  little  kindnesses  I  might  have  rendered,  and  did 
not,  because  she  was  so  uncomplaining  I  never  knew  her 
need  of  them  until  it  was  too  late." 

Mr.  Brandon's  eyes  moistened  with  the  tender  remi- 
niscences her  words  had  recalled. 

"  Those  who  die  by  swift-winged  messenger  of  des- 
truction, Minnie,  while  nobly  contending  in  a  righteous 
cause,  are  less  to  be  pitied  than  those  who  sit  by  lonely, 
desolate  firesides,  nursing  vain,  regretful  longings  for  the 
dead  and  buried  past,  which  locks  in  its  cofiers  the 
sounds  for  lack  of  which  the  ear  is  forever  unsatisfied  ; 
the  sights  which  alone  can  bring  gladness  to  the  eyes, 
making  the  waste  places  of  the  earth  to  bud  and  blos- 
som as  the  rose.  All  honor  and  glory  to  the  patriot 
heroes  who  fall  in  defence  of  the  Right;  but  sudden 
death  by  bursting  shell  or  sabre  stroke  is  scarcely  harder 
to  bear  than  the  clinging  memories  which  haunt  the 
bereaved  heart  with  delusive  phantoms  of  a  happiness 
that  might  have  been.  Fatal  the  marksman's  aim,  but 
gyief  has   also   deadly  weapon,  venomed   shaft  in  its 


quiver  " 


Minnie  drew  a  long  breath ;  her  thoughts  dwelt  on 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  3^ 

the  imuierited  rebuke  she  had  received  from  one  to 
Avhoni  her  sacredlj  pledged  word  had  yielded  the  right 
of  control  over  her  future  desti^3^ 

'•  The  same  words  from  other  lips  would  have  been 
ncthing,"  she  said  to  herself,  ''but  I  have  so  worn  luy 
heart  on  my  sleeve  for  him,  that  it  is  very  bitter  to  re- 
ceive a  blow  in  return  for  my  trust." 

"  What  is  it,  Minnie  ?  Have  you  kept  back  from  me 
any  cause  for  your  unusual  disquietude'^"  asked  her 
father,  noting  the  look  of  extreme  despondency  stamped 
on  her  expressive  features. 

She  started,  colored  violently,  and  stammered  a  scarce 
coherent  reply,  l^ot  even  to  him  could  she  reveal  the 
words  of  cold^-eproval,  forgotten  by  their  speaker  almost 
as  soon  as  uttered,  which  rankled  sorely  in  her  thoughts. 
She  was  learning  that  embittered  lesson  which  all  but 
the  shallowest  natures  must,  sooner  or  later,  learn — to 
suffer  and  be  still. 


CIIAPTEK    III. 

CHAiq-GEFUL    SKIES. 

OxcE  within  the  sanctuary  of  her  own  chamber,  she 
takes  from  her  dressing-table  the  jewel-casket  already 
mentioned.  What  wills  she  with  it  ?  Surely  her  heavy, 
tear-stained  eyes  will  not  regain  their  lustre  through  the 
sparkle  of  gems.  Full  well^recks  she  of  this,  as,^ placing 
the  casket  in  a  small  walnut-wood  box,  and  adding  to 
its  contents  a  locket,  a  miniature  at  which  she  does  not 
even  stop  to  glance,  she  slides  the  same  beneath  her 
bureau,  saying  to  herself,  "  There  let  it  remain  for  the 
present." 

2* 


ti  THE    niYAL   VOLUXTEEES  ;    OE, 

l^early  a  week  elapsed  before  Mr.  Caruthers  again 
came  to  the  cottage. 

'•  I  can  liardlj  stop  to  sit  down,"  were  almost  his  first 
words ;  "  for  I'm  so  harassed  by  business  cares  that  I  have 
lianlly  a  minute  to  spare,  and  fairly  lilchcd  time  to  run 
down  and  ask  after  your  health." 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you,  I'm  sure  ;,but  how  did  you 
come?     I  do  not  see  your  horse  or  veliiclo." 

"I  left  the  liorse  in  the  shade  ot*  the  walnuts  yonder, 
it  is  so  sunny  here." 

''  As  you  are  in  snch  haste,  let  me  drive  a  mile  or  two 
"with  you  on  your  return;  I  would  like  the  walk  back." 

"  I  should  like  nothing  better  than  to  have  you  go ; 
very  good  of  you  to  offer,  I'm  sure ;  but,  unfortunately, 
I  have  a  friend  with  me,  and  must  defer  the  j^leasure  of 
a  drive  with  yourself  to  a  more  favorable  opportunity." 

The  slight  confusion  in  his  manner  did  not  escape  her 
penetrating  glance. 

"  Only  a  young  relative,"  he  explained,  in  reply  to 
her  look,  for  she  had  asked  no  question  ;  and  turned  to 
lavish  voluble  praise  upon  the  shrubs  in  full  bloom 
beneath  the  window.  She  gathered  him  a  bunch  of 
thes3  gorgeously  tinted  censers  of  sweet  incense,  and 
then  accompanied  him  as  far  as  the  garden-ofate,  where 
he  bade  licr  "Good-day"  in  a  tone  so  decisive,  that  she 
was  strongly  inclined  to  the  belief  that  he  was  fearful 
of  her  accompanying  him  fartlier,  and  desirous  of  baffling 
any  such  attempt  on  her  part.  Filled  with  a  vague  dis- 
trust, which  was  all  the  more  tormenting  that  it  had  no 
tangible  base  on  which  to  rest,  instead  of  returning  to 
the  cottage,  she  made  her  way  to  the  top  of  what  was 
known  as  Sugar-Loaf  Hill,  commanding  the  view  of  a 
long  stretch  of  level  vale,  through  which  wound  the 
road  leading  toward  the  city.  She  had  acknowledged 
to  herself  no  definite  purpose  in  toiling  up  the  ascent, 
but  her  eager  glance  across  the  extended  valley  would 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   KIFLES.  35 

have  betrayed  to  acute  observer  the  clue  to  her  secret 
motive.  Her  gaze  rested  on  the  object  it  had  sought; 
tlicre  were  the  dashing  bays  creeping  along  at  a  snail's 
pace,  hardly  consistent  with  their  driver's  recent  lament 
at  being  unable  to  snatch  more  than  briefest  respite 
from  harassing  business  cares,  and  by  his  side,  the  droop- 
ing bine  feather  in  her  charming  hat,  jauntily  looped 
up  at  the  rim,  distinctly  visible,  sat  a  lady  in  whose  con- 
versation, judging  from  his  attitude  of  rapt  attention,  he 
was  deeply  interested. 

Slowly  and  sadly  Minnie  wended  her  way  homevrard, 
oppressed  by  cause  so  slight  or  so  subtle  as  to  defy  all 
attempts  at  mental  analysis  or  verbal  embodiment. 
The  next  day  she  accompanied  her  father  in  a  drive  to 
the  city,  and  on  a  crowded  sidewalk  canght  a  brief 
glimpse  of  a  lady  in  jaunty  hat  with  drooping  blue 
feather,  who  carried  in  her  hand  the  identical  bunch  of 
scarlet  geranium,  ever-blooming  rose  and  scented  laurel 
she  had  herself  presented  to  Mr.  Carnthers  the  previous 
afternoon.  This  little  incident,  trivial  and  nnimportant 
though  it  seem,  was  yet  sufficient  to  poison  for  its 
beholder  every  fount  of  joy.  From  the  maze  of  sus- 
picion and  perplexity  into  which  it  threw  her,  she  found 
herself  utterly  powerless  to  escape. 

The  deep,  strong  tones  of  Mr.  Carnthers'  voice,  as  he 
came  up  the  garden-walk  with  her  father  late  in  the 
week,  half  disarmed  her  of  her  doubts ;  surely  that  frank, 
outspoken  voice  would  never  convey  to  her  message  of 
guile  or  deceit.  She  met  the  speaker  with  a  look  of  the 
keenest  scrutiny,  which  be  returned  with  one  of  smiling 
good  humor. 

'-'  I  have  just  come  from  Marchmont's  greeneries,  and 
here  is  a  bouquet — monstrous  in  size,  but  selecting  from 
such  a  wealth  of  sweets,  I  couldn't  make  it  smaller — 
which  I  had  the  gardener  cut  expressly  for  you.  Here 
are  scentless  roses,  blue,  wliite  and  purple  campanula; 


36  THE  KiTAL  volunteers;  or, 

and  camelias,  Tvhicli  are  good  for  iiotliiDg  but  to  be 
looked  at ;  it  is  ainoiigst  these  carnations  and  heliotro})e 
blossoms  that  you  must  seek  for  perfume  such  as  you 
will  ]iever  find  in  odor-cases.  Tliese  pas^ion-llowers  arc 
said  to  speak  a  language  intelligible  to  the  initiated,  of 
uliich  I  am  not  one  ;  ])ray  enlighten  my  ignorauce, 
Miss  Brandon,  from  the  fullness  of  vour  own  know- 
ledge." 

"  I  am  quite  as  un instructed  in  floral  lore  as  yourself," 
she  returned,  unable  to  throw  oft'  the  slight  shade  of 
restraint  that  still  chilled  her  manner  ;  noticing  which, 
he  redoubled  his  eftbrts  to  cheer  and  enliven  her. 

'•  I  will  not  ask  you  to  go  with  me  for  a  drive  to-day," 
said  be,  "  our  last  experimeiit  in  that  line  not  having 
led  us  into  scenes  tbat  could  exactly  be  called  inspirit- 
ini^: ;  but  please  favor  me  with  your  company  for  a  short 
walk." 

Without  demur  she  acceded  to  bis  proposal,  and  they 
strolled  foith  arm-in-arm.  Having  been  long  accus- 
tonied,  througli  motives  of  self-interest,  to  the  close 
study  and  observation  of  mankind,  and  dealing  with  a 
character  as  transparent  and  free  from  art  of  guile  as 
was  that  of  his  companion,  he  was  not  slow  in  ferreting 
out  the  cause  of  her  uneasiness,  and  applying  efficacious 
antidote. 

'*  One  reason  for  my  visiting  you  to-day,"  he  care- 
lessly remarked,  breaking  ground  by  cautious  and 
guarded  approach  toward  the  theme  which  he  well 
knew  to  be  uppermost  in  her  thoughts,  "  is.  to  solicit 
your  kind  nliicjs  in  beludf  or'a  young j^/Y^/erjr^V,  a  disTant 
connection  of  n.iine,  who  comes  amongst  us  an  entire 
stranger  to  our  h.ihits,  ways  and  customs.  Miss  Sears 
may  be  neither  very  brilliant  nor  very. learned — rhat  last 
fact  rather  a  desideratum  in  a  woman,  1  think — but  she 
has  such  a  flow  of  spirits  that  you  can  never  tire  of  her; 
I  never  heard  an  ill-natured  word  from  her  lips,  and  she 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   TvIFLES.  37 

is  so  sweet-tempered,  that  on  acquaintance  you  cannot 
help  liking  lier." 

Minnie's  look  said  as  plainly  as  words  conld  liave 
spoken,  that  she  was  not  indisj^osed  to  resist  the  elFect 
of  said  allurements,  and  tliat  all  sweetness  from  that 
flower  nnsoen  mig^ht  as  well  be  wasted  on  the  desert  air 
as  on  senses  steeled  like  hers  against  their  bewitchments. 
IMr.  Caruthers  saw  the  mistake  he  had  made  in  praising 
one  woman  to  another,  already  half  disposed  to  regard 
her  as  a  rival,  and  hastened,  so  far  as  lay  in  his  power, 
to  retrieve  this  vital  blunder. 

"  Let  me  tell  you  something  of  Lucy  Sears'  ante- 
cedents, Miss  Brandon,  that  you  may  see  how  utterly 
forlorn  her  condition  would  be  if  it  were  not  for  the 
friendly  aid  1  felt  it  my  duty  to  bestow  on  the  lonely 
orphan  girl  who  would  otherwise  have  been  thrown 
penniless  upon  the  uncertain  charities  of  a  sellish  world. 
Her  father,  Gregory  Sears,  was  one  of  nature's  oddities, 
who  lacked  nothing  in  the  way  of  intelligence  and 
ability,  excepting  connnon  sense.  I  don't  suppose  lie  was 
to  blame  for  the  infirmities  that  seem  to  have  been  born 
with  him ;  but  they  were  the  cause  of  great  tribulation 
to  his  parents.  He  was  quick  and  apt  at  book  learning 
and  soon  knew  more  than  his  masters  in  that  line;  but 
set  him  to  swapping  jack-knives  or  jews-harj)S  with  the 
biggest  noodle  in  school,  and  he  was  sure  to  get  the 
worst  end  of  the  bargain.  His  father,  who  was  a  grazier 
in  a  small  way,  used  to  set  him  to  watch  the  cattle  and 
sheep,  but  generally  found  him  in  some  shady  nook, 
book  in  hand,  its  margins  all  scribbled  over  with  rhyme 
and  his  wits  gone  wool-gathering  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  where  his  sheep  might  have  been  too,  tor  all  his 
interfering  to  prevent." 

"  Then  he  was  a  poet,"  suggested  Minnie. 

*'I  suppose  so,  poor  fellow;  he  couldn't  help  it  — 
always  star-gazing,  and  so  falling  into  the  open  pitfalls 


38  THE   riVAL   VOLrNTEERS;   OE, 

Ijinp:  unheeded  at  his  feet.  Of  course  he  fell  in  love, 
as  die  phrase  goes — yonr  improvident,  sentimental 
dreamer  always  does  that — with  a  white-handed,  lilv- 
hrowed,  incfiicient  sylph,  who  rapt  him  into  tlie  seventh 
heaven  of  Elysinm  by  reading  the  'effusions  of  his 
muse,'  as  she  called  his  jingling  metres,  with  the  air  of 
a  tragedy  queen  on  the  stage  (I  don't  mean  that  she 
raved  and  stamped,  and  tore  her  hair  like  Lady  Mc- 
Ghastlin  after  she  had  poured  a  drop  of  melted  lead  in 
her  husband's  ear,  but  she  did  the  pathetic  to  a  tnrn, 
with  real  tears  in  her  eyes),  and  she  encouraged  him  to 
publish  his  rhymes.  Quite  naturally,  the  operation 
proved  a  losing  one  on  his  ]:)art ;  for,  though  the  news- 
paper critics  said  one  wouldn't  be  likely  to  fiill  asleep 
over  the  book,  which  found  a  ready  local  sale,  and 
wasn't  very  bad  stuff  to  take,  if  one  got  weather-bound 
at  a  country  tavern  or  any  other  out-of-the-way  place 
where  a  billiard-room  or  a  bowling-alley  was  an  unat- 
tainable luxury,  he  lacked  the  enterprise  to  place  it 
properly  before  the  public  and  make  it  pay.  After  his 
marriage,  affairs  were  far  from  mending ;  for  his  wife, 
who  could  sweep  the  streets  with  the  air  and  the  grace 
of  a  seraph,  knew  just  as  much,  no  more,  no  less,  than  one 
of  those  celestial  beatitudes  about  anything  in  the  way 
of  useful  employment.  A  more  comfortless,  ill-arranged 
home  than  })Oor  Gregory's  I  never  saw. 

"  I  offered  him  a  situation  as  clerk  in  a  branch  house 
at  Kew  York  connected  with  our  firm.  He  was  a  good 
penman  and  quick  accountant,  the  only  trouble  being 
that  nothing  would  cure  his  mania  for  dabbling  in  verse. 
"With  a  whole  string  of  charges  waiting  to  be  entered  on 
the  books,  he  would,  as  likely  as  any  way,  be  found  up 
in  the  loft,  on  a  pile  of  gunny-bags,  putting  meadows 
green  and  running  brooks  into  lines  chopped  of  an  equal 
length,  and  bringing  up  with  a  certam  similarity  of 
Bound.     It  was  this  habit  of  losing  himself  in  his  own 


THE  BLACK   PLTJME  EIFLZS.  39 

fancies  that  indirectly  cansed  his  death.  He  was  so  in- 
considerate as  to  lose  himself  in  a  brown  stndy  directly 
beneath  the  scnttle,  down  which,  from  an  upper  story, 
tlie  boYS  were  lowerino*  a  large  quantity  of  lieavy  mer- 
chandise. They  got  ^tircd,  I  suppose,  didirt  adjust 
the  ropes  as  carefully  as  they  ought  in  handlmg  such 
Aveio-lity  boxes;  one  of  them  slipped  from  its  fastennigs 
before  it  had  half  reached  the  ground  floor,  and  strikmg 
Grei^ory  on  the  head  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

''I  went  to  lse^v  York  as  soon  as  I  heard  of  the  acci- 
dent, and  found  the  young  wido^^— she  did  set  her  life 
by  him,  there's  no  mistake  about  that— in  a  truly  piti- 
able condition,  yiolent  hysterics  alternating  with  com- 
plete prostration  of  the  neryous  system.  There  neyer 
was  a  woman  worse  calculated  to  push  her  way  upward 
in  the  world,  or  to  do  anything  in  the  way  of  earning  her 
own  liyelihood.  I  couldn't  help  pitying  her,  though 
she  provoked  me  out  of  all  patience  by  constantly  parad- 
ing her  2:rief  to  the  friends  for  whom  she  sent  as  soon  as 
she  was'^able  to  receiye  them,  and  to  whom  she  talked 
Yohibly  of  the  virtues  of  the  deceased  and  her  own  irre- 
parable loss,  shedding  torrents  of  tears  the  while..  The 
grief  that  spends  itself  in  words  iS  not  the  kind  that  cuts 
deepest,  I'm  inclined  to  think." 

"  You  are  right,"  assented  Minnie ;  ''  it  is  the  un- 
spoken sorrow  whose  betrayal  would  lead  to  humiliation 
or  abasement  in  one's  own  self-respect,  to  which  sympathy 
would  give  but  an  added  pang,  that  eats  like  iron  into 
the  soul.  It  is  only  in  deeds  brought  about  by  wrong 
and  dissimulation  that  this  intolerable  sort  of  endurance, 
nnshared  and  unsolaced,  becomes  imperative  in  a  proud, 
self-reliant  nature."  .  . 

He  glanced  at  her  a  little  uneasily,  and  resumed,  m  a 
lower  tone : 

'' Your  eyes  accuse  me,  if  your  words  do  not.^  lou 
surely  would  not  have  had  me,  the  only  person  liviag  on 


40  THE   niVAL   TOL^^'TEEES.    OE, 

"whom  tliey  had  tlie  sliadow  of  a  claim,  leave  the  widow 
and  Jier  fatherless  child — Lucy  was  only  ten  then — 
with  the  wolf  almost  at  their  door?  Easily  swayed  hj 
generous  impulses  yourself,  I  made  sni'e  you  would  ap- 
pi'ove  rather  than  condemn  the  same  in  others.'' 

lie  had  struck  the  right  cIkmxI  at  las',  and  the  vihra- 
tion.s  respon.-ive  to  his  toucli  were  exactly  what  he  could 
have  wished.  She  was  ashamed  of  the  suspicions  she 
now  accused  herself  of  having  entertained  without  a 
shadow  of  cause ;  and  in  her  eagerness  to  atone  for  the 
injustice  of  which  she^  supposed  herself  to  have  been 
guilty  toward  her  companion,  she  passed  at  once  to  the 
opposite  extreme  of  boundless  trust,  for  which  she  had, 
perhaps,  as  little  reason  as  for  the  cankering  doubts  that 
had  poisoned  her  peace.  He  was  not  slow  to  perceive 
the  advantage  he  had  gained,  nor  to  actli])on  it. 

"1  do  most  wai'udy  approve  your  generosity,"  she 
hastened  to  assure  him;  "  it  is  just  t'le  sort  of  nobly-dis- 
interested act  1  should  have  expected  from  you  under  the 
circumstances." 

''Thanks  for  your  good  opinion.  We  will  not  pursue 
the  subject  lurther.  I  cannot  suppose  that  you  will 
feel  toward  utter  strangers  anything  like  the  degree  of 
interest  with  which  I  regard  those  1  have  been  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  befriend." 

"  Pray  go  on,  ]\Ir.  Carnthers,  I  will  not  look  upon  any 
one  whom  you  call  friend  as  a  stranger.  Mrs.  Sears 
and  hei  little  daughter  were  left  in  dependent  circum- 
stances, I  gathered  from  what,  you  said." 

"The  furniture  of  their  lodgings,  a  few  books,  a  half 
dozen  prints  or  so,  and  their  clothing,  w^ere  all  they 
could  call  their  own.  I  tried  to  make  her  understand 
her  true  condition,  and  to  lind  out  her  plans  for  the 
future  ;  but  if  she  had  any  understanding,  1  couldn't 
draw  it  out ;  and  as  to  plans,  I  could  take  my  oath  with 
a  clear  conscience  that  she  need  never  plead  guilty  to 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  41 

any  such  iDclictment  When  I  asked  her  if  she  intended 
to  remain  where  she  was,  she  said  it  made  no  difference 
where  slie  lived,  or  what  became  of  her,  now  that  slie 
had  nothino;  left  worth  living  for.  'But  you  must  live 
somewIiereV  said  I.  '  I  trust'my  sojourn  in  this  wretched 
world  may  be  short,'  said  she,  l^eginning  to  cry  ;  '  and  if 
by  any  sort  of  drudgery  I  can  obtain  the  bare  means  of 
subsistence,  the  liumblest  shelter,  and  the  coarsest  fare, 
I  slnill  be  m.ore  than  content.  Henceforth  I  shall  look 
upon  life  as  a  burden  to  be  borne,  not  as  a  good  to  be 
desired.'  She  stuck  so  to  generalities,  that  I  had  to  pin 
her  down  to  a  plain  question,  by  asking  her  if  she 
thought  she  could  earn  her  own  support  if  I  could  pre- 
vail on  some  of  my  friends  to  give  the  little  girl  a  heme  ? 
Didn't  she  rave  "then  ?  asking  me  if  my  heart  was  as 
hard  as  the  nether  millstone,  that  I  could  think  of  sepa- 
rating a  widowed  mother  from  the  only  dear  object  she 
had  left  upon  earth.  I  had  a  great  mind  to  leave  her  to 
settle  that  point  at  her  leisure,  and  I  would  have  done 
60,  only  I  knew  she  was  jifsi  gull  enough  to  run  through 
her  small  possessions  in  the'briefest  possible  time,  and 
come  upon  my  hands  more  destitute  than  ever. 

"I  had  a  small  tenement  vacant  in  Troy,  which  I 
offered  her,  rent  free,  promising  to  superintend  her  re- 
moval to  the  same  if  she  would  go  at  once.  She  made 
as  great  an  outcry  at  the  idea  of  being  carried  away 
from  her  friends  and  her  husband's  last  resting-place,  as 
though  I  had  been  trying  to  wrong  instead  of  to  benefit 
her,  but  finally  closed  with  my  proposal.  I  left  her 
comforlably  settled  in  her  new  quarters,  with  a  supply 
of  fuel,  and  provisions  that  would  not  need  hasty  replen- 
ishment. 'I  shall  soon  obtaiu  some  sort  of  employ- 
ment,' were  her  parting  Avords,  '  when  I  shall  at  once 
cancel  my  hidebtedness  to  you,  as  I  wish  to  be  under  no 
obligations  to  one  who  never  appreciated  my  precious 
Gregory's  matchless  gifts ;  and  instead  of  placing  him 


42  THE   RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OB, 

in  a  position  wlicnce  his  untrammelled  spirit  could  have 
llowi).  on  i^inions  free,  to  the  vaulted  cini)yre?\n,  bound 
him  dovrn  to  the  pert'orinauce  of  such  taskwork  as  more 
common  natures  mip:]it  as  well  have  fuliilled." 

''  An  odd  M"c\j  of  expressing  pTititude,  it  seems  to  me." 
''  So  I  thought ;  she  appeared  to  be  so  mncli  in  dread  of 
lowering  her  dignity  by  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a 
favor,  that  she  resolutely  persuaded  herself  none  snch 
had  been  conferred.  I  received  a  letter  from  her  within 
a  month  after  reaching  home.  She  had  been  learning 
to  make  thin  vests  and  coats,  she  wrote,  from  a  widow 
Avoman  and  lier  daughtei-,  to  wliom  she  had  given  their 
board  in  return  for  instructions  received.  She  under- 
stood her  trade  (the  word  she  underlined,  as  thougli  1 
were  somehow  to  bhame  for  her  being  forced  to  apply 
it  to  herself,)  perfecth',  and  could  obtain  plenty  of  work 
from  the  shops.  Tlie  only  trouble  was  she  could  not 
'Sew  rapidly  enough  by  hand  to  compete  with  those  who, 
by  the  help  of  sewing-machines,  could  stitch  up  seams 
in  as  many  minutes  as  it  tool^'her  hours  to  do  with  her 
needle.  Jf  she  only  had  some  friend  of  whom  she  could 
bori-ovr  fifty  dollars  to  purchase  one  of  these  invaluable 
assistants  to  female  toil,  she  ti'usted  soon  to  be  able  to 
repay  what  she  owed  me  with  interest.  She  actually 
proposed  selling  her  watch  to  raise  the  needful  sum,  as, 
she  said,  a  poor  person  could  get  along  without  the  time 
of  day,  but  the  means  of  gaining  a  subsistence  were  in- 
dispensable. In  reply,  I  ordered  one  of  Ladd  &:  "Web- 
ster's machines  to  be  boxed  up  and  sent  to  her,  hoping 
it  would  bind  her  over  to  keep  the  peace  for  ever  after. 
It  didn't  answer  {he  purpose  long.  The  next  letter  I  re- 
ceived was  such  a  high-flown  mess  of  rodomontade 
that  I  couldn't  for  the  life  of  me  make  out  what  the 
woman  was  driving  at.  She  talked  of  inspiration,  and 
the  soul  of  art ;  of  low,  grovelling  natures,  that  had  no 
afiinity  with  those  goaded  on  in  an  erratic,  comet-like 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   ELFLES. 


4t 


orbit  of  eccentric  course  by  the  divine  aiilatTis  baser 
spirits  could  never  fathom  or  comprehend.  Then  she 
had  lots  to  say  of  Michael  Angclo,  and  several  other  old 
painters  who  died  years  ago  •"  and  I  conclnded,  jis  she 
didn't  see  fit  to  explain  her  pnrposes  in  an  intelhgiblo 
manner,  to  go  on  to  Troy  myself,  and  see  what  new 
hobby  the  widow  had  started  off  on  this  time. 

"  to  Troy  I  went ;  and  the  instant  the  slipshod  servant 
girl  admitted  me,  1  Avas  conscions  of  the  same  aspect  of 
nntidy  discomfort  that  had  always  somehow  pervaded 
Greo:ory's  home.  The  entry  smelled  of  frjing-pans  and 
rancid  gravy  drippings,  and  the  cnrtains  of  the  room 
into  which  I  was  shown  were  yellow  and  dingy,  the 
carpet  ragged  and  soiled,  and  the  filthy  table-cloth  fur- 
nishins:  e'ntertainment  for  ravenons  squads  of  vagrant 
flies.  1  was  kept  waiting  half  an  hour,  and  then  snch 
a  figure  as  presented  itself  to  my  astonished  view ! 
Wearing  a  nondescript  article  of  calico  attire — a  cross,  I 
should  s'ay,  between  a  tunic  and  a  dressing-gown—over 
grey  flannel  trousers,  red  velvet  sHppers  with  ponited 
toes,  and  on  its  head  a  bhie  cloth  cap  trimmed  with 
tinseh"  „„     .     ^ 

"  Had  the  poor  creature  really  lost  her  senses  ?  asked 
Minnie,  with  apparent  interest.  ^^ 

'•  It  is  my  impression  that  she  never  had  any  to  lose, 
was  the  cool  rejoinder.  "There  were  some  rough 
sketches  done  on  Bristol  board,  the  glasses  kept  in  place 
over  them  by  a  binding  of  brown  paper,  hanging  against 
the  walls  ;  and,  to  show  a  becoming  interest  in  all  that 
pertained  to  my  charming  relative,  I  asked  if  they  were 
little  Lucy's  liandiwork.  'By  no  means,'  said  the 
widow,  tart  as  a  snapdragon  ;  '  a  mere  child  like  her 
could  no  more  comprehend  the  mysteries  involved  in  the 
study  and  composition  of  high-art  productions  like  these, 
than  a  sign  painter  could  illuminate  an  ancient  missal?' 
'Are  they  crayons?'  asked  I.     'Monochromes,'  replied 


44  THE    RIVAL   volunteers;    OR, 

slie ;  and  offered  to  take  thenr  down  for  my  closer  in- 
spection. I  objected  to  putting  her  to  the  trouble,  for  I 
had  liad  enough  ot'  the  wretched  daubs;  hut  as  she  liad 
made  up  lier  mind  that  I  was  to  pass  critical  judgment 
on  them,  pass  judgment  I  did,  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 
*  This,'  said  slie,  'is  Poudaliiinc,  a  lovely  peasant-girl  uf 
Bretagne.  Did  you  ever  see  such  hands  on  a  living 
person  ?'  '  Xever,'  said  I ;  '  but  I  have  seen  tbem  won- 
derfully like  on  the  wooden  dolls  I  used  to  buy  little 
Lucy.'  She  snatched  away  the  portrait,  and  put  another 
in  its  place.  'This,'  she  explained,  'is  Medora,  watch- 
ing, by  night,  the  return,  which  will  not  happen  in  time 
for  her  to  see  it,  of  the  bandit  chief  who  is  her  lord.  See 
how  picturesquely  her  long  floating  hair  streams  out  on 
thcpinions  of  the  passing  breeze!'  'It  seems  to  be  in 
a  dreadful  snarl,' said  I,  'and  she  will  tear  it  half  out 
by  the  roots  before  she  ever  gets  a  line-toothed  comb 
through  it.'  '  Don't,  1  entreat,'  said  she  (not  Medora, 
but  the  widow),  '  take  views  so  prosaic  of  incarnation  so 
poetical.  A  work  of  art  is  to  be  looked  at  in  an  ideal 
light,  don't  you  perceive?'  '  Kot  exactly,'  said  I;  'I 
take  things  as  they  come,  and  if  the  light  in  which  a 
picture  is  placed  comes  through  dingy,  floppy  curtains, 
I  can't  alter  the  fiict,  as  I  see.'  She  gave  me  a  look  that 
didn't  seem  quite  friendly  as  she  whisked  Medora  oft'  my 
knee,  and  put  a  female  who  seenjed  on  the  point  of 
going  raving  distracted  in  her  place.  '  Of  what  does 
this  remind  you  V  asked  Cousin  Lucy,  drawing  herself 
np  with  something  of  the  old  tragedy  air.  '  Of  a  woman 
"with  a  dislocated  neck,'  I  answered,  '  her  head  is  so 
twisted  over  the  left  shoulder.'  To  my  surprise,  Mrs. 
Sears  seemed  rather  pleased  at  my  reply.  '  I  thought,' 
said  she,  '  that  the  subject  of  this  monochrome  had  been 
so  faithfully  and  vigorously  treated  that  it  would  provoke 
you  into  the  betrayal  of  some  strong  emotion,  either  of 
admiratiou  or  repugnance — the  latter,  perhaps,  being 


TnE   BLACK   PLUME   KIFLE8.  45 

tlie  more  approprifite  tribute  to  the  po^er  of  the  artist, 
^y]\o  wrought  out  this  female  figure  as  an  impersonation 
of  Horror.  Examine  tlie  lineaments  more  closely  ; 
isn't  every  feature  instinct  with  that  passion  that  cnrdles 
onr  blood  and  makes  our  flesh  creep  V  .  '  Ten  times 
more  natural  than  life,'  said  I ;  '  the  figure  really  seems 
as  tliough  it  might  step  forth,  in  actual  bodily  presence, 
and  use^those  sharp  finger-nails  to  evil  purpose.'  Then 
I  seriously  advised  tlieir  exhibiter  to  throw  the  ugly- 
visagcd  harpies  amongst  the  rubbish  to  which  they 
rightfally  belonged,  and  offered  to  send  her  on  sonie 
really  well-executed  engravings  from  my  own  collection. 
Instead  of  appearing  pleased  at  my  proposed  gift,  she 
put  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes  and  threatened  me  vrith 
a  lachrymal  shower,  which  I  dreaded  above  all  things. 
I  thought  I  would  try  the  effect  of  a  compliment,  by 
way  of  averting  the  impending  storm.  '  Have  your  own 
portrait  and  that  of  your  child  taken,'  I  suggested  ;  'for 
why  should  your  walls  be  disfigured  by  these  scrawn}-, 
hollow-eyed  ogresses,  when  beauty  and  grace  are  so 
liandy  for  portrayal  V 

"  She  caught  "^the  bait  readily ;  said  that  her  good 
.looks  were  nothing  to  her  now  that  the  only  eyes 
she  cared  to  please  were  closed  forever;  that  she 
did  not  expect  me  to  approve  the  new  project  she  was 
most  anxious  to  carry  out.  I  had  never  appreciated 
poor  Gregory's  talents,  and  she  had  no  reason  to  hope 
for  a  greater  display  of  leniency  tov\^ard  her  own.  I 
begged  her  to  explain  her  project  at  once  ;  and  she  told 
me  that  she  found  needlework  a  most  irksome  en.^plo}^- 
ment,  and  would  much  prefer  painting  pictures  instead. 
I  asked  if  the  sewing-machine  had  not  worked  well,  and 
she  confessed  that  she  never  could  learn  to  manage  it  so 
as  not  to  waste  thread,  crook  needles,  skip  stitches,  and 
make  such  fringed  seams  that  the  shopkeepers  found 
fault  with  her  work  and  refused  to  employ  her.     *  My 


46  THE   KIYAX   VOLUXTEZrvS;    OR, 

heart  Tvas  not  in  my  task,'  said  she ;  '  bnt,  in  bodying 
forth,  TV'ith  tiie  pencil's  magic  toucli,  the  ideal  creations 
of  my  iiiisband's  lofty  genius,  I  shall  find  active  call  for 
all  my  higher  faculties.  In  the  first  place,  liowever,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  go  through  a  regular  course  of  in- 
struction. I  would  tike  to  take  lessons  of  Madame  do 
FrijDonne — forty  dollars  a  quarter  is  her  price  for  tuition 
— who  sometimes  sells  a  single  painting  as  higli  as  three 
hundred  dollars,  and  earns  a  handsome  support  by  her 
art.  If  you  will  lend  me  a  helping  hand  now,  at  the 
outset  of  my  new  career,  you  shall  be  repaid  out  of  the 
first  profits  it  brings  me  in.'  Of  course,  I  was  delighted 
to  comply  Avith  a  request  holding  out  such  tempting 
prospect  of  a  rich  return  ;  so  I  became  responsible  for 
the  j^ainting  lessons,  and  only  heard  occasionally  from 
the  artist  for  the  two  succeeding  years. 

'•  At  the  end  of  that  time,  business  calling  me  on  to 
"New  York,  I  went  a  little  out  of  my  way  to  call  on  the 
widow.  While  several  blocks  distant  I  heard  the  rattle 
of  piano-keys  from  Mrs.  Sears'  sitting-room,  mingling 
with  two  voices,  tenor  and  treble,  acco'i-ding  with  about 
the  etiect  one  would  naturally  expect  from  a  hurdy- 
gurdy  and  a  corn-stalk  fiddle  playing  in  concert.  I 
found  a  foreign-looking  man  with  thin,  sharp  features,' 
an  eye  lik^  a  live  coal,  and  long,  black  hair,  parted  in  the 
middle,  acting  as  grand  performer  in  the  instrumental 
accompaniment  to  this  concatenation  of  sweet  sounds. 
The  widow,  too,  seemed  quite  rejuvenated,  with  frills 
to  her  gown,  shamrock  bracelets  on  her  arms,  and  all 
sorts  of  odds  and  ends  on  her  head.  The  music  stopped 
on  my  entrance,  and  the  long-haired  pianist,  with  a 
profusion  of  smiles  and  gestures,  bowed  himself  out  of 
the  room.  'Who  is  thaUellow?'  i  asked.  'That  gen- 
tleman,' replied  Mrs.  Sears,  with  severe  dignity,  'is  Fro- 
te-ssor  Anglocini,  my  music-teacher,  and  this  piano  is 
his.     His  charges  for  instruction — none   but   the  first. 


THE    BLACK    PLUME   P.IFLES.  47 

families  can  afford  to  employ  him — are  nsiiallj  con- 
sidered exorbitant ;  but  out  of  regard  to  my  reduced 
circumstances,  lie  has  treated  me  with  the  utmost 
liberality.  I  may  say  that  my  lessons  actually  cost  me 
nothing,  as  it  is  very  little  more  trouble  to  cook  and  lay 
the  table  for  three  than  for  two  ;  and  I  only  give  him 
his  board  in  return  for  his  invaluable  services.'  'But 
who  provides  the  means  for  furnishing  household  sup- 
plies V  I  asked,  confounded  at  her  cool  way  of  stating 
the  case  ;  and  inclined  to  the  belief  that,  instead  of 
being  the  shallow  innocent  I  had  taken  her  for,  she 
was  about  as  long-headed  a  schemer  as  a  man  could  well 
have  to  deal  with.  '  Thank  you,'  said  she, '  for  reminding 
me  of  a  subject  about  which  I  have  been  very  anxious  to 
consult  you.  These  vulgar  trades-people  have  become  so 
insolent  and  pressing  in  their  demands,  that  I  most 
earnestly  beseech  of  you  to  find  some  means  of  relieving 
me  from  their  persecutions.  You  cannot  imagine  how 
excessively  annoying  it  is  to  a  woman  of  refined  sensi- 
bilities to  be  waylaid  and  accosted  in  the  street  by  a 
clamorous  dun.  I  have  suffered  more  in  this  way  than 
I  can  possibly  describe  to  you.  Only  think  of  it — I  had 
planned  a  cosy  little  dinner-party,  simple  soups,  birds, 
sherbet,  sangaree,  ices,  and  fruits,  in  honor  of  the  arrival 
of  some  distinguished  Italians,  friends  of  the  Professor. 
I  had  my  best  gilt  dinner  service,  a  birtliday  gift  from 
my  lamented  Gregory,  with  the  silver-plate  hired  for 
the  occasion,  on  the  side-board,  when  who  should  make 
his  appearance,  with  a  bill  as  long  as  your  arm,  but 
the  provision  dealer  round  the  corner.  He  was  very 
civil  and  smooth-tongued,  so  was  I,  and  thought  I  had 
smoothed  dov/n  his  ruflied  plumes ;  but  conceive  my 
overpowering  resentment,  when  the  heartless  wretch 
had  the  unparelleled  effrontery  to  come  back  with  an 
officer,  and  march  off*  with  plate,  dinner-set,  and  all. 
Of  course,  the  owner  of  the  silver  looked  out  for  his  pro- 


48  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

perty,  br.t  my  i^ilt  service  was  gone  forever;  and  no  one 
can  imagine  the  intensity  of  my  mortification  in  being 
obliged  to  pass  soup  to  a  gentleman  so  tlioroiiglily  ac^ciis- 
tomed  as  is  the  Professor  to  the  formula  of  well-bred 
observance,  in  a  bowl,  with  latten  spoon  as  accompani- 
ment.' 

'•Instead  of  attending  to  lier  twaddling  prate,  I 
inquired  how  much  and  how  many  she  owed^  and  found 
I  had  some  pretty  heavy  bills  to  pay  on  her  account.  I 
paid  them,  there  was  nothing  else  to  be  done,  since  I 
had  undertaken  the  burden  of  their  support ;  but  I  had 
no  idea  of  being  almoner  to  a  pack  of  make-shift 
foreigners,  wlio  got  their  living  by  their  v.-its.  My 
sweet  cousin  abused  me  like  a  pickpocket  when  I  pro- 
posed removing  her  to  a  cheap  boarding-house  ;  declaring 
that  she  should  have  nothing  left  worth  living  for,  if  I 
interru]3ted  her  in  the  prosecution  of  her  musical  studies. 
I  told  her  they  would  soon  get  to  be  an  old  story  with  her, 
and  she  would  tire  of  them  as  she  had  of  making  pictures. 
No,  she  said  ;  painting  she  had  been  forced  to  resign 
because  she  found  it  was  seriousl}^  impairing  her  eye- 
sight, while  the  odors  of  the  colors  was  undermining  her 
health  ;  but  to  music  she  was  deeply  anxious  to  devote 
herself  for  the  sake  of  her  child.  Little  Lucy  had  an 
aptitude  for  rhythm  and  vocalization,  which,  if  properly 
cultivated,  she  might  one  day  turn  to  good  account. 
'  My  constitution.'  pathetically  stated  Gregory's  well-pre- 
served relict,  '  has  been  so  shattered  by  repeated  blows 
of  misfortune  that  I  am  unfitted  for  continuous  effort, 
and  can  look  forward  to  nothing  better  than  becoming 
a  useless  cumberer  of  the  ground,  a  burden  ivpon  society 
at  large,  perhaps,  if  the  friends  in  whom  i  may  have 
vainly  trusted  should  prove  false  in  this  my  hour  of 
sorest  need.  Having  nothing  further  to  hope  for  myself 
in  this  weary  world,  I  would  devote  the  declining  rem- 
nant of  my  days  to  the  task  of  so  developing  my  daugh- 


THE    BLACK   PLUME    EIFLES.  49 

ter's  talents,  as  to  make  them  best  contribute  to  her  own 
maintenance,  thus  sparing  her  that  galling  sense  of  ^  de- 
pendence which  is,  and  must  continue  to  be,  the  blight 
and  bane  of  my  existence.' 

"  There  is  gratitude  for  you  ;  she  would  graciously 
condescend  to  accept  from  me  the  means  of  support,  all 
the  while  petuhmtly  bemoaning  the  hard  fate  which 
had  subjected  her  to  the  humiliation  of  submitting  to 
obligation  so  unwelcome.  Obligation,  did  I  say  ?  she 
felt  nothing  of  the  kind.  She  was  one  of  those  essen- 
tially selfish  persons  to  whom  you  may  give  ninety-nine 
times  without  any  shadow  of  return ;  but,  refrain  from 
giving  the  one  hundredth,  and  see  what  a  crop  of 
enmity  your  favors  will  have  sown  for  your  own  special 
reaping." 

''  You  have  spoken  thus  far  only  of  the  mother,"  sugr 
gested  Minnie,  with  slightly  rising  color,  "  while  it  is 
the  daughter  of  whom  I  am  most  curious  to  hear." 

"  I  saw  very  little  of  the  child  during  her  mother's  life- 
time, but  when  Mrs.  Sears  went  off  in  a  rapid  decline,  I 
was  left  with  an  awkward  responsibility  on  my  hands, 
considering  my  bachelor  estate.  What  was  I  to  do 
with  a  pretty,  petted,  wilful,  attractive  girl  of  fifteen? 
I  asked  the  question  a  great  many  times,  always  failing 
to  gain  any  satisfactory  reply." 

"  Then  she  was  quite  a  charming  person,  this  young 
Miss  ?"  interrogatively  suggested  Minnie,  the  slight 
quiver  of  the  muscles  about  the  mouth  betraying  the 
anxiety  with  which  she  awaited  his  response. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  she  seemed  to  others.  To  me, 
her  lively  flow  of  spirits,  her  disposition  to  make  the 
best  of  everything,  even  her  harmless  little  aftectations 
of  a  spite  and  malice  it  was  not  in  her  gentle  nature 
really  to  entertain,  aflPorded  me  an  unfailing  fund  of 
amusement,  and  kept  the  old  house'  from  knowing  a  dull 
moment  while  she  was  in  it." 


50  THE   KIVAL   V0LFXTEEES;'0E, 

"  To  ^liat  house  do  you  allude  ?"  asked  Minnie,  witli 
an  air  of  cold  restraint. 

"  To  the  old  family  mansion  in  Orland  Park,  where 
my  mother  had  kindly  consented  to  receive  the  orphan, 
and  superintend  the  progress  of  her  education,  which 
liad  betn  sadly  neglected,  so  I  was  told.  Lucy  would 
have  got  along  well  enough  at  the  Park,  if  she  had  had 
only  n.y  mother  to  deal  with;  but  my  stately,  puncti- 
lious sisters  were  bent  on  disliking  my  ward  from  the 
iirst,  and  reproved,  brow-beat,  and  lectured  the  poor 
child  till  she  hadn't  a  minute's  peace  of  her  life.  They 
were  pinks  of  propriety,  bound  up  in  rigid  convention- 
alisms which  no  earthly  motive  could  have  induced  them 
to  overstep ;  she  danced,  and  sang,  and  laughed,  and 
chatted  in  utter  defiance  of  those  stringent  rules  of 
etiquette  which  were  their  law  and  gospel.  I  was  at 
my  wits'  ends,  trying  to  steer  a  clear  course  between  the 
two  factions.  There  were  never-ending  complaints  of 
her  unformed  manners  and  peculiar  ways,  which  I  did 
not  much  mind  so  long  as  Lucy  kept  up  good  heart 
and  showed  no  signs  of  falling  a  victim  to  this  i)etty 
tyranny." 

"  What  did  they  see  in  her  behavior  to  provoke  such 
repeated  censures  V  Minnie  curiously  inquired. 

"  Xothing  worthy  of  death  or  of  stripes,  so  far  as  I 
could  make  out,"  was  the  careless  rejoinder.  "  She  loved 
j)leasure  better  than  study,  which  was  natural  enough 
at  her  age  and  with  her  cheerful  temperament,  and  hid 
'  Jane  Eyre '  and  '  My  Kovel '  under  her  French  exer- 
cises, reading  the  stories  by  stealth.  When  practising 
at  the  piano,  she  would  slip  aside  her  '  Zauberflote,'  or 
some  operatic  gem,  and  rattle  off  some  noisy  reel  or 
hornpipe,  winding  up,  perhaps,  with  '  Sweet  Youth  of 
Lochrain,'  and  '  Peggy  on  her  old  Black  Cart.'  Then 
she  had  a  habit,  when  she  came  in  from  a  walk,  of  toss- 
ins:  her  hat  into  one  chair,  her  scarf  into  a  second,  and 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    HIFLES.  51 

lier  gloves  and  parasol  into  a  third,  giving  tlie  room  an 
appearance  of  disorder  whicli  Dian  couldn't  tolerate. 
She  had  a  fancy,  too,  for  running  into  the  neighbors, 
bareheaded,  and  with  bare  arms  and  shoulders,  and  for 
singing  on  the  balcony,  which  my  sisters  insisted  that 
she  did  solely  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  attention 
from  passers  by.  She  chatted  at  the  area  gate  with  the' 
ice  man,  the  dirt-boy,  or  anybody  else  who  would  give 
her  back  a  pleasant  word  or  smile,  and  horrified  Dian 
by  tossing  forget-me-nots  to  her  music-master,  and  play- 
ing 2)olkas  on  a  jews-harp  for  the  servants  to  dance  by 
in  the  kitchen.  ^N'one  of  these  were  legally  indictable 
offences,  you  perceive,  but  they  shocked  my  sisters' 
sense  of  decorum,  until  they  declared  that  my  ward,  as 
they  persisted  in  calling  Lucy,  was  so  hoydenish  and 
underbred  that  she  was  scarcely  presentable  to  persons 
of  ordinary  refinement.  They  began  to  treat  her  with 
cold,  stinging  slight  and  neglect.  When  she  opened  the 
piano,  they  retreated  to  the  most  distant  part  of  the 
house,  as  if  to  avoid  its  sound.  She  was  requested  to 
study  in  her  own  dressing-room,  and  was  rarely  sent  for 
to  meet  any  of  their  visitors.  If  a  pleasure  excursion 
were  planned,  she  was  never  asked  to  make  one  of  the 
party.  When  they  went  out  for  a  drive,  she  was  not 
offered  a  seat  in  the  carriage.  In  a  thousand  ways  she 
was  made  to  feel  that  she  was  an  unwelcome  inter- 
loper, who  had  no  rightful  or  recognized  place  in  the 
household. 

"  Business  called  me  to  Liverpool.  When  told  that  I 
must  leave  her  for  a  time,  the  poor  girl  cried  as  though 
her  heart  would  break,  and  beo^s^ed  to  £ro  with  me.  Gom- 
pliance  with  such  a  request  was  snnply  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, and  I  told  her  so.  She  readily  acquiesced  in  my 
decision  ;  she  never  was  one  of  your  self-willed  vixens, 
bent  on  carrying  their  own  purposes  at  all  hazards — 
at  least  she  never  attempted  to  thwart  any  plan  of  mine. 


52  THE    KIYAL   YOLU^TEE^vS;    OK, 

"  I  was  away  from  home  two  months,  and  on  my  return 
I  noticed  a  great  change  in  Lucy  Sears.  She  liad  grown 
quiet,  reserved,  womanly.  She  was  not  looking  well 
either,  and  her  eyes  showed  frequent  traces  of  weeping, 
but  she  made  no  complaints.  My  sisters  treated  her 
with  the  same  studious  coldness  as  heretofore  ;  but  she 
betrayed  no  token  of  annoyance  at  their  undisguised 
antipathv.  I  resolved  to  send  her  away  to  boarding- 
school.  J.  supposed  she  would  be  delighted  at  this  ar- 
rangement ;  but,  to  my  surprise,  she  entreated  to  remain 
where  she  was.  '  I  will  not  get  in  your  sisters'  way,' 
she  said,  with  a  humility  that  touched  me  to  the  quick, 
'  if  you  will  let  me  stay  ;  but  pray  do  not  send  me  quite 
away  from  the  only  friend  and  benefactor  I  have  in  the 
world.'  It  was  a  hard  case  for  the  lonely  orphan  to  be 
sent  amongst  entire  strangers  ;  wasn't  it,  Miss  Brandon  ?" 

"  Very  hard,''  she  returned,  in  her  most  frigid  man- 
ner, "  when  she  seemed  to  have  been  so  warmly  attached 
to  her  guardian." 

''  It  was  no  more  than  natural,  when  he  was  the  only 
person  to  whom  she  could  turn  lor  kindness  or  comfort," 
admitted  unsuspecting  Mr.  Caruthers.  "  After  this  im- 
plied admission  of  a  preference  so  flattering,  I  was  nr 
cessarily  bound,  as  a  man  of  honor,  to  remove  her  from 
an  influence  which  might  become  too  powerful  for  her 
to  resist,  and  so  wreck  her  happiness  without  the  least 
fault  committed  on  her  part." 

Minnie  flashed  at  him  a  glance  of  anxious,  troubled 
inquiry,  which  he  was  too  much  absorbed  in  his  own  re- 
miniscences to  observe. 

"  I  was  firmly  convinced  that,  for  her  own  sake,  she 
must  go.  I  wrote  to  the  principal  of  a  seminary,  and 
arranged  terms  for  her  board  and  tuition  ;  but  when 
I  saw  how  Lucy  grieved  over  the  prospect  of  our  imme- 
diate separation,  I  exerted  myself  to  the  utmost  to 
relieve  her  despondency.    '  Keep  up  good  courage,'  said 


THE   BLACK   PLrME   EIFLES.  53 

I,  '  study  hard,  perfect  yourself  in  all  the  modern  accom- 
plishments, attend  carefully  to  the  precept  and  exam- 
ple you  doubtless  will  receiye.  in  grace  of  manner  and 
elegant  ease  of  address,  which  I  lack,  but  which  the 
future  Mrs.  Carutliers  must  not  be  deficient  in.'  AYas  I 
to  blame  that  she  put  a  construction  on  my  words  they 
y^ere  neyer  intended  to  conyey  ?  She  took  it  for  granted 
that  there  was  some  sort  of  tacit  understanding  between 
us;  and  as  I  could  not,  without  a  gross  yiolation  of  all 
rules  of  gallantry,  humiliate  and  mortify  her  by  explain- 
ing and  correcting  her  mistake,  there  was  nothing  left 
for  me  but  to  humor  it  as  best  I  might,  trusting  to 
time  to  unravel  the  tangled  vreh  of  fate." 

"  Leaying  her  in  the  meantime  to  the  fancied  security 
of  a  false  trust,  which  absence  might  but  strengthen  ! — 
was  not  this  a  cruel  kindness,  Mr.  Caruthers  V 

''  Absence  was  quite  as  likely  to  efface  all  remem- 
brance of  the  youthful  attachment  she  had  so  unguard- 
edly betrayed;  and  that  would  haye  put  matters  all 
right  at  once." 

Minnie's  cheek  flushed  and  paled  as  she  ventured  her 
next  suggestion  :  "  Then  your  o^yn  feelings  were  not  in 
any  way  involved  in  the  result  of  this  experiment  you 
w^ere  trying  on  those  of  your  ward." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Miss  Brandon ;  I  am  a  plain 
man,  and  like  plain  speaking.  I  do  not  ^uite  catch  the 
drift  of  your  last  remark." 

"  I  mean  that— if  the  regard  you  had  reason  to  sup- 
pose this  inexperienced  girl  entertained  for  you  stood  the 
test  of  time  and  absence,  what  course  w^ould  you  have 
adopted  in  such  contingency?  Would  you  have  awak- 
ened her  abruptly  from  her  dearly-cherished  delusion  ? 
or  would  you  have  fulfilled  the  expectations  you  knew 
your  words  had  raised  ?" 

"That  would  have  depended  on  circumstances,"  he 
replied,  with  an  air  of  careless  indiflerence. 


54:  TnE    RIVAL    YOLUNTEEP.S  ;    OR, 

"  I  am  not  to  be  thus  easily  baffled,"  thought  his  fair 
querist,  both  cheek  and  eve  brilliantly  aglow. 

"In  Avhat  circumstances?"  she  dauntlessly  persiited. 

"  I  am  quite  unable  to  tell,  as  they  never  occuiTcd," 
he  curtly  replied,  somewhat  irritated  by  her  pertinacity. 
''  I  have  spoken  of  ni}"  own  personal  affairs  much  more 
freely  than  is  my  wont,  in  order  that  you  might  knoAV, 
if  any  exaggerated  rumors  concerning  the  subject  that 
I  have  been  explaining — to  your  satisfaction,  1  hope — 
should  reach  you,  exactly  how  much  and  how  little  cre- 
dence to  give  them.  I  dare  say  there  was  no  occasion 
for  my  raking  up  the  past  in  this  fashion ;  but  I  always 
aim  to  have  every  transaction  of  mine  open  and  above 
board.  Let  those  who  will,  stoop  to  trick  and  chicanery, 
it  is  not  my  way." 


CHAPTEPw    lY. 

QATnEEIXG    CLOUDS. 

It  was  with  a  heavy,  depressing  weight  on  her  spirits 
that  Minnie  Brandon  returned  to  the  cottage.  The 
lurking  demon  of  doubt  had  crept  into  the  pure  Eden 
of  her  faith  ;  left  its  trail  on  the  sweet  lilies  of  her 
trust ;  tainted  all  the  odor-laden  air  with  its  pestilent 
breath. 

She  sat  down  at  tlie  open  window,  heeding  nothing 
of  the  sights  and  sounds  passing  about  her,  every  faculty 
of  her  being  concentrated  in  the  effort  of  recalling  every 
"word,  tone  and  look  accompanying  the  recent  conversa- 
tion between  herself  and  Mr.  Caruthers.  The  entrance 
of  her  father  with  a  couple  of  letters,  one  directed  to 
herself,  disturbed  her  profitless  musings.    With  languid, 


THE   BLACK   PLTJilE   KIFLES.  55 

listless  air,  she  broke  the  seal  to  her  epistle,  unfolding  a 
closely-written  sheet  of  note-paper,  presenting,  when 
held  at  a  little  distance,  the  appearance  of  a  most  deli- 
cate and  elegant  specimen  of  chirographr,  but  proving, 
on  closer  inspection,  very  difficult  of  decipherment. 
Thus  its  content s  ran : 

^'  Miss  Bra:ndon  : — I  have  a  very  serious  reason  for 
penning  you  these  few  lines,  which  I  have  lain  awake  all 
night  thinking  over,  ho]Ding  3"ou  will  excuse  the  liberty, 
as  I  am  not  acquainted  with  you,  and  never,  to  my 
knowledge,  so  much  as  laid  eyes  on  your  face.  Bat  for 
air  that,  I  have  something  to  say  to  you  that  ought  to  be 
said,  and  the  sooner  it  is  over  with  the  better  for  all  our 
sakes.  I  consider  it  my  solemn  duty  to  warn  you  against 
placing  your  affections  upon  Mr.  Caruthers  ;  and  if  you 
don't  heed  my  warning,  there  is  no  telling  where  the  mis- 
chief will  stop  ;  for  1  am  very  resolute  and  determined 
when  once  I  set  about  a  thing,  and  I  shall  leave  no  stone 
unturned  to  defeat  the  machinations  set  on  foot  to  sunder 
the  ties  binding  me  to  my  affianced  lover.  You  had  bet- 
ter give  him  up  of  your  own  accord,  otherwise  he  will 
be  taken  out  of  your  toils  in  a  way  that  will  make  no 
end  of  gossip  and  scandal.  I  send  you  this  note,  hoping 
that  mild  measures  may  serve  my  purpose  ;  but  despise 
these,  and  set  me  at  bay,  if  you  dare ;  I  have  no  fear  of 
being  worsted  in  the  end. 

"  Excuse  me,  I  did  not  mean  to  threaten  you ;  let  me 
state  facts,  and  you  will  see  that  my  claim  on  Mr.  Car- 
uthers is  older  and  more  firmly  established  than  yours. 
Our  engagement  has  lasted  three  years,  and  is  at  this 
moment  as  binding  as  ever  it  was.  Our  wedding-day 
was  appointed  last  autumn  ;  but,  an  unavoidable  cause, 
that  could  neither  be  foreseen  nor  prevented,  occurred 
to  postpone  it — only  to  postpone  it,  mark  you-^and  I 
haven't  a  shadow  of  doubt  that  fate  will  prove  more 
propitious  when  the  appointment  is  renewed. 


56  THE    RIVAI.   YOLITNTEERS;    OR, 

"  That  was  a  terrible  evening  for  me  when  I  looked 
througli  the  lace-cnrtained  window,  where  the  blind  was 
not  quite  drawn  clown,  and  saw  him  doing  the  honors  of 
his  splendid  new  house  with  such  a  grand  and  lofty  air, 
knowing,  as  I  did,  that  mv  rightful  place  was  by  his 
side.  I  felt  better  AvJien  he  told  me  tliat  he  didn't  know  I 
was  in  the  city  ;  as,  indeed,  lie  didn't;  for  I  had  not  ap- 
prised him  of  my  coming,  fearing  he  would  oppose  it, 
and  so  frustrate  my  purpose  of  being  near  him.  I  have 
no  intention  of  returning  to  Troy,  although  he  strongly 
nrges  my  doing  so,  as  he  thinks  I  should  be  safer  there 
than  here,  until  these  war-clouds  blow  over.  I  am  will- 
ing to  run  all  that  sort  of  risk  for  the  sake  of  the  de- 
lightful society  he  so  kindly  devotes  to  my  entertain- 
ment. I  ride  out  with  him  every  day,  and  not  an  even- 
ing passes  without  my  seeing  him. 

"  I  close  by  warning  you,  afresh,  to  beware  of  striv- 
ing to  beguile  my  promised  husband  away  from  the  true 
and  faithful  allegiance  he  owes  to  me.  Even  if  your 
arts  did  in  some  sort  succeed,  the  day  that  brought  you 
such  success  would  be  an  evil  day  for  you.  We  are 
strangers  now ;  Heaven  grant  that  we  remain  so ;  we 
could  never  meet  as  friends.  I  do  not  sign  my  name, 
not  because  I  am  ashamed  of  it,  but  because  you  would 
be  none  the  wiser  for  reading  such  signature. ' 

Minnie  folded  this  strangely  worded  epistle,  with  a 
look  of  added  perplexity  on  her  troubled  face.  Her 
suspicions  pointed  at  once  to  Lncy  Sears  as  the  writer, 
and  she  carefully  noted  and  compared  several  striking 
coincidences  between  Mr.  Caruthers'  confession  and  that 
conveyed  to  her  in  epistolary  form.  ^'He  can  find 
plenty  of  time  to  devote  to  her,  while  to  me  his  visits 
are  of  the  briefest,"  she  said  to  herself  with  untold  bit 
terness. 

"  You  have  bad  news,  I  fe^r,"  said  Mr.  Brandon,  with 
mild  solicitude. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  5T 

^'  l^ot  exactly  news,"  she  returned,  with  wearily  de- 
jected ah-,  "  at  least,  I  hesitate  to  receive  it  as  such 
until  I  know  who  sends  it.  I  shall  make  every  effort  in 
my  power  to  ascertain  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the 
accusations  contained  in  this  anonymous  letter;  if  they 
be  false,  I  will  do  injustice  to  no  one  by  repeating  them 
— if  true,  you  shall  know  all  if  I  have  the  heart  to  tell 
you." 

"  An  anonymous  letter,"  repeated  Mr.  Brandon  ;  "  the 
most  contemptible  mode  of  sending  barbed  shafts  from 
hidden  shelter  that  was  ever  invented.  Depend  upon 
it  that  the  writer  who  sends  accusations  he  has  not  the 
manhood  to  substantiate  by  his  real  signature,  has  no 
very  creditable  motives  for  withholding  the  same.  Do 
not  give  yourself  a  moment's  uneasiness  from  cause  so 
entirely  undeserving  of  notice.  I  have  news  more  re- 
liable which  will  call  me  away  to  Chicago  for  a  few 
days.  But  with  marauding  parties  ready  to  start  up  at 
every  turn,  I  dare  not  leave  you  here,  with  only  old 
Chloe  as  protector.  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  pass  the 
time  of  my  absence  with  the  Caruthers."  She  shook 
her  head. 

"  Miss  Dian  is  housekeeper  for  her  brother,  at  present, 
and  nothing  would  induce  me  to  take  any  step  that 
might  be  construed  into  the  appearance  even  of  an 
attempt  on  my  part  to  court  his  society.  Leave  me,  if 
you  please,  with  my  mother's  cousins,  Miss  Honour  and 
Wilhelmine  Courcelle." 

''Two  single  women,  all  by  themselves;  not  much 
safer  than  leaving  you  here." 

"  They  are  such  bold,  resolute,  self-reliant  persons  that 
I  shall  have  no  fears  with  them ;  besides,  their  house  is 
fto  far  from  any  ordinary  line  of  travel  that  it  is  not 
likely  to  be  molested.  "My  casket  of  jewelry  I  shall 
carry  to  Mr.  Caruthers,  requesting  him  to  lock  it  up  in 
the  safe  with  his  plate." 

2* 


53  THE  mvAL  volunteers;  or, 

*'  Wliy  not  put  it  in  the  blind  closet  leading  from  the 
cellar-arcli  "i  j\I.  Moellon  designed  that  hidden  recess 
specially  as  a  place  in  which  to  secrete  his  valuables." 

"  In  case  of  lire  my  casket  would  be  lost.  1  would 
rather  leave  it  as  I  first  proposed." 

One  reason  for  her  persistence  in  this  plan  was,  that 
she  had  resolved  on  showing  the  letter  which  had  so 
deeply  disquieted  her  to  Mr.  Caruthers,  watching  the 
expression  of  his  face  Avhile  he  read  the  missive,  and 
drawing  therefrom  her  own  conclusions  as  to  the  truth 
or  lalsity  of  these  anonymous  revelations.  ''Let  me 
but  know  the  worst,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  and  I  Avill 
call  up  my  best  fortitude  to  meet  it ;  but  this  wretched 
state  of  uncertainty  and  suspense  I  will  not  submit  to 
a  moment  longer  than  is  absolutely  necessary." 

On  reaching  the  door  of  the  mansion  from  which  she 
had  last  issued  in  mood  of  festal  mirth,  she  was  per- 
mitted by  the  servant,  who  recognized  his  prospective 
mistress,  to  pass  directly  to  Miss  Dian's  dressing-room, 
where  the  latter,  before  a  tall  Psyche  glass,  was,  with 
minutest  care,  arranging  the  folds  of  her  robe  to  more 
harmonious  flow.  Her  brother  was  out  of  town,  she 
said,  and  readily  agreed  to  take  charge  of  the  casket 
until  his  return.  When  Minnie  started  for  home  the 
former  accompanied  her  for  a  short  walk.  Up  the  broad 
thoroughfare,  down  which  their  promenade  extended, 
dashed  a  pair  of  spirited  bays,  whose  driver  was  in  the 
thoughts  of  both  pedestrians.  Minnie  caught  sight  of  a 
fair  smiling  face  shaded  by  drooping  blue  feathers,  as 
her  companion  tried  to  hurry  her  beneath  an  ivy-covered 
archway.  The  young  girl  maintained  her  ground  reso- 
lutely. 

''  If  you  know,  Miss  Caruthers,  the  lady  driving  with 
your  brother,  please  to  tell  me  who  she  is." 

Miss  Dian  hesitated,  scarcely  knowing  what  reply  it 
would  be  most  desii*able  to  make. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  *  59 


"I  already  have  her  name,"  desperately  ventured 
Minnie ;  ''  I  merely  wish  to  know  the  estimation  m  which 
you  hold  her.  Your  brother  seems  to  consider  her  a 
very  charming  person,  whom  I  could  not  fail  to  hke  on 

^""^'TlweTwhere  he  and  I  diiFer,"  asserted  Miss  Dian, 
with  warmth.  "  Lucy  Sears  is  a  pretty-laced,  solt-man- 
nered,  selfish  shallow-pate,  gifted  with  the  same  sort  of 
cunning  as  other  inferior  animals.  I  cannot  deny  that 
she  can  be  verv  amiable— when  it  suits  her  purpose,  it 
suits  her  purpose  to  be  all  honey  and  sweetness  to  my 
brother,  and  so  she  always  wears  velvet  gloves  for  him. 
He  thinks  it  is  for  him  alone  her  blandisnments  are  ex- 
erted. Fool !  I  have  seen  her  put  on  as  many  airs  and 
graces  to  fascinate  the  music-master  Kilby  paid  lor  tiirt- 
ino-  with  her ;  at  least,  that  was  the  main  accomphsh- 
ment  she  acouired  from  him.  Strange  how  much  sooner 
even  men  of  sense,  in  other  matters,  take  to  a  pretty 
simpering  woman  than  to  one  who  knows_  enough  to 
conduct  herself  like  a  responsible  human  being. 

''  Did  Mr.  Caruthers  ever  make  her  direct  x^roposals 
of  marriao;e?"  abruptly  asked  Minnie. 

''Heavens!  don't  startle  me  with  such  a  preposterous 
suo:o;estion.  What  sort  of  a  figure  would  she  cut  ma 
family  like  ours  ?  Absurd  1  incredible !  ^^ever  allude 
to  the  possibihty  of  such  an  occurrence  again  it  you  ao 
not  wish  to  seriouslv  ofiend  me.  Her  silly  chatter 
amuses  him,  that  is  all.  Come  back  and  remain  witii 
me  while  your  father  is  away,  and  we  will  make  t.ie 
house  so  gay  and  lively  that  all  outside  attractions  shall 
pale  in  comparison."  -,    t  i^r-      •       ar 

"  I  am  in  no  mirthful  mood,"  pleaded  Mmnie ;      i 

cannot  come."  ^         .      ly 

''  ]^ot  when  it  is  to  rescue  ivilby  from  the  arts  ot  an 
unscrupulous  schemer,  who  will  leave  no  means  untried 
to  bind  him  to  her  interests  ?" 


GO         '  THE   RIVAL  volunteers;    OR, 

"^ot  even  for  that.  Mr.  Caruthers  is  old  enoiigli  to 
know  his  own  mind,  and  to  act  npon  such  knowledge. 
He  has  the  right  to  select  the  society  most  congenial  to 
him ;  if  that  does  not  happen  to  be  mine,  tliere  is  no 
help  for  it.  As  to  stooping  to  court  the  attention  he  sees 
fit  to  bestow  on  another,  nothing  would  induce  me  to 
adopt  a  course  so  derogatory  to  my  own  dignity  and 
self-respect." 

"  The  love  cannot  be  very  strong  that  can  thus  easily 
be  overmastered  by  pride." 

Forbearing  all  reply  to  the  covert  reproach  conveyed 
through  these  words,  Minnie  took  brief  leave  of  her  com- 
panion, and,  with  an  air  of  unruffled  composure,  pro- 
ceeded on  her  way.  It  was  not  until  her  feet  once  more 
pressed  the  greensward  a  considerable  distance  outside 
the  city's  limits,  that  she  gave  free  scope  to  the  bitter 
tears  wrung  forth  by  mortified  pride  and  slighted  regard. 
It  was  only  for  a  brief  space  that  she  groped  her  way 
along,  half  blinded  by  passionate  weeping,  half  choked 
by  stifling  sobs,  then,  drying  her  eyes,  her  step  grew 
firm  and  her  look  composed,  as  she  said  to  herself,  "  It 
is  better  to  sufter  through  another's  wrong-doing  than 
through  one's  own — to  be  sinned  against  than  sinning. 
My  father  was  right  when  he  said  that  no  one  whose 
conscience  rose  not  up  in  accusation  against  him  could 
experience  the  deepest  wretchedness  of  human  woe." 
Before  reaching  home,  she  had  overcome  every  trace  of 
emotion  ;  but  an  acute  observer  might  have  remarked 
that  in  her  whole  air  was  a  tinge  of  unusual  sadness, 
mai-ked  by  an  added  ex]3ression  of  gentle  deference  to- 
ward the  parent  she  revered. 

When  tea  was  over,  she  proposed  reading  aloud  to 
him,  and,  with  a  look  of  gratified  expectancy,  he  threw 
himself  on  the  couch,  prepared  to  listen.  From  the 
works  of  the  grnnd  old  masters  of  English  song,  lining 
the  book- case,  she  took  down  volume  after  volume,  cull- 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   PJFLES.  61 

ing  extracts  here  and  there  as  fancj  prompted — 
extracts,  by  some  subtle  instinct  chosen,  permeated 
through  and  through  by  plaintive  ontgush  of  human 
grief  from  some  chastened  soul,  striving  in  vain  yearn- 
ing to  soar  upward  on  wings  of  finite  melody,  if,  haply, 
it  may  catch  but  faintest  echoes  from  those  infinite  har- 
monies to  whose  entrancing  strains  earthly  perceptions 
are  sealed  for  all  time.  Unconsciously  she  read  these 
outpourings  of  a  sorrow  which  none  can  escape,  but  not 
all  can  express,  with  a  depth  of  feeling,  an  earnestness 
of  appreciation,  which  attracted  her  father's  notice. 
Raieiug  himself  on  his  elbow,  he  closely  scanned  the 
readers  face. 

"  Something  must  have  gone  seriously  wrong  with 
her,"  thought  he  ;  "  it  is  only  through  afflictions  of  our 
own  that  we  learn  to  enter,  heart  and  soul,  into  those  of 
others." 

She  paused,  gravely  thoughtful,  as  she  finished  tlie 
perusal  of  Hood's  ''  Song  of  a  Shirt,"  quietly  remarking, 
''  It  must  be  most  wearing,  wearisome  eftbrt,  the  ill-paid 
drudgery,  the  never-ending  toil  by  which  the  poor 
needlewoman,  by  slow  stitches,  earns  the  scant  pittance 
that  keeps  body  and  soul  together;  but  the  heart  may 
be  heavy  with  its  own  bitterness  where  no  physical  want 
is  known." 

"  Life,  you  will  learn,  Minnie,  as  you  know  more 
of  it,  is  no  holiday  gift  to  even  its  most  favored  j^os- 
sessor.  We  must  all  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith  with 
the  evil  that  is  within  us  as  well  as  without.  Our 
spiritual  weapons  are  to  be  kept  bright  by  constant  war- 
fare with  the  sins  that  do  so  easily  beset  us ;  and  yet,  in 
the  midst  of  the  conflict  we  must  daily  wage,  we  have 
also  to  watch  narrowly,  lest,  in  such  strite,  we  sacrifice 
all  the  sweet  charities  of  life — the  meekness,  patience, 
and  long-suflPering  which  would  lend  us  to  bless  even  our 
enemies,  and  to  minister  unto  th-ir  needs,  if  sick  or  in 


62  THE    RIVAL    VOLUXTEEES;    OE, 

prison,  even  tliou2,\h  we  may  have  been  the  chosen  in- 
struments for  inflicting  on  them  God's  vengeance  for 
wicked  misdeeds." 

"  If  I  ever  learn  to  be  patient  and  tolerant  like  your- 
self, it  will  be  through  much  tribulation,"  Minnie  frankly 
admitted  ;  "  at  present,  any  sort  of  treachery  or  double- 
dealing  rouses  in  me  the  most  unqualilied  resentment." 

He  waited  for  her  to  proceed  ;  but,  fearing  that  some 
unguarded  word  might  betray  the  secret  source  of  her 
uneasiness,  she  remained  persistently  silent. 

With  undefined  purpose  of  fathoming  the  motive  for 
her  reserve,  he  asked,  ''  Did  you  see  Mr.  Caruthers 
to-day  ?" 

^'  Not  to  speak  witlvhim?"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"  How  did  it  come  to  pass  that  you  met  without 
speaking  to  him  ?" 

"  It  is  not  easy  to  call  out  from  a  crowded  side-walk 
to  a  gentleman  driving  up  a  thronged  street,"  returned 
Minnie,  with  a  disingenuousness  for  which  she  heartily 
despised  herself. 

The  sound  of  wheels  on  the  carriage-sweep  outside 
sent  a  rosy  flush  to  her  cheek.  Had  Mr.  Caruthers,  on 
learning  of  her  father's  contemplated  journey  from  his 
sister,  come  to  urge  her  remaining  with  them  during  his 
absence  ?  Cliloe  opened  the  door  to  admit  a  small  boy 
with  bill  for  repairing  hay-cutter.  Sick  at  heart  from 
eflect  of  chimerical  fancy,  as  unsubstantial  as  bursting 
bubble  or  evanescent  rainbow  tint,  Minnie  stole  away 
to  her  own  room,  hoping  in  sleep  to  lose  the  aching  sense 
of  unrest  she  could  not  otherwise  hope  to  escape. 

Isext  morning  there  was  a  little  flutter  of  expectancy 
in  her  manner  as  she  glanced  toward  the  road  at  the 
sound  of  every  vehicle  that  chanced  to  pass ;  but  as 
noontide  drew  near,  and  she  gradually  settled  into  the 
conviction  that  he  would  sufier  her  to  depart  without 
any  attempt  at  explanation  or  leave-taking,  a  look  of 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  63 

imwontecl  pride  and  resolve  stamped  itself  on  features 
generally  a  reflex  to  all  kindly  and  gentle  emotions. 

Throughout  the  long  drive  conveying  her  to  the  tem- 
porary place  of  abode  she  had  chosen,  she  maintained  an 
almost  unbroken  silence.  Her  father,  noticing  her  ab- 
straction, soon  desisted  from  all  efforts  at  conversation, 
saying  to  himself,  "  She  must  work  out  life's  problem  in 
her  own  way.  Heaven  help  her;  I  can't.  It  is  the 
human  lot  to  learn  wisdom  through  no  teacher  save 
hard  experience." 

Xot  thus  forbearing  those  two  notable  housewives  and 
sagacious  managers  of  ploughing  and  planting,  sowing 
and  reaping,  Miss  Honour  and  AYilhehnine  Courcelle, 
who  would  have  scorned  to  claim  protection  from  any 
livino^  beino:,  deemins;  themselves  fullv  equal  to  the  task 
of  asserting  and  maintaining  their  rjghts,  as  well  as  re- 
dressing their  wrongs.  Industrious,  frugal,  indomitable 
of  will,  with  decided  o]3inion3  of  their  own,  which  they 
were  not  at  all  backward  in  promulgating,  in  season  or 
out  of  season,  any  indulgence  of  sentiment  was  likely  to 
meet  but  scant  Vavor  from  the  elderly,  matter-of-fact 
spinsters.  Jealous  of  any  innovations  upon  the  customs 
which  had  descended  to  them  with  their  estate  from 
their  immediate  ancestors,  no  carpets  covered  their  well- 
waxed  floors,  no  modern  furniture  was  permitted  to  oust 
from  their  time-honored  places  the  comfortless  oaken 
chairs  and  leather-covered  benches,  and  no  fresh  print 
disputed  possession  with  the  wretchedly-executed  family 
portraits  staring  woodenly  from  the  walls.  Stanch 
Unionists,  their  sharp-tongued  assaults  on  those  inclined 
to  symj)athize  with  the  insurgents  won  them  enemies  by 
the  score.  Perhaps  a  glance  at  the  well-thumbed  con- 
tents of  their  booVshelves  may  give  a  more  accurate 
impression  of  their  mental  habitudes  than  could  be 
otherwise  conveyed  in  form  as  concise.  Here  is  the 
"Bee-Keeper's  Manual,"  "Hints  for  Bearing  Young 


64  THE   RIVAL  volunteers;    OR, 

Stock,"  "  Every  Man  his  own  Veterinarian,'^  "  Insects 
injurious  to  Vegetation,"  *' Fertilizers  best  adapted  to 
ditferent  Soils,"  "ISTotes  on  the  Use  of  Nitrates  and 
Ammonia  in  A£:riculture,"  "  E^say  on  Irriiration," 
*' Directions  for  Grape-culture,"  ''The  Horticulturist," 
"  A  Treatise  on  Political  Economy,"  "  Condition  of  the 
Laboring-Classes  in  Great  Britain,"  "Monarchy,  Auto- 
cracy, and  Democracy,"  "  Spitallields  Weavers  and  Corn- 
wall Miners,"  "  Statistics  of  English  Domestic  Service," 
"Prince  Albert's  Address  to  the  Servants'  Provident 
Society." 

It  will  be  perceived  by  this  brief  glance  at  the  Misses 
Courcelles'  supply  of  reading  material,  how  eminently 
utilitarian  the  taste  directing  their  studies,  Minnie  was 
not  long  suffered  to  remain  idle.  "  Come,  and  make 
this  yeast  with  your  own  hands,"  directed  Miss  Honour, 
"that  you  may  know  how  to  impart  to  a  servant,  if 
need  be,  so  useful  a  piece  of  information.  It  is  well  for 
the  mistress  of  a  household  to  understand  all  these 
things,  even  if  she  has  not  so  much  as  to  turn  the  silver 
faucet  supplying  her  daily  bath.  AVe  Avait  upon  our- 
selves from  choice ;  but  we  know  what  it  is  to  be  served 
like  ladies — to  be  perfumed  in  fine  laces  and  brocade, 
with  one  servant  to  fan  away  the  heat  and  another  to 
brush  away  the  iiies — we  know  what  it  isn't,  too ;  it 
isn't  good  for  low  spirits  or  dyspepsia ;  so  we  harden 
our  hands,  bronze  our  faces,  strengthen  our  muscles, 
and  lengthen  our  lives  by  wholesome  toil.  "Who  ques- 
tions the  wisdom  of  our  course  ?" 

"  Why  make  us  out  worse  than  we  are  ?"  asked 
Wilhelmine.  "Why  not  confess  tliat,  in  all  this  pinch- 
ing and  saving,  we  act  from  a  higher  motive  than  any 
which  could  arise  from  mere  personal  aims  ?" 

"  As  Minnie's  mother  was  a  Courcelle,  it  may  not  be 
*amiss  to  comply  with  your  suggestion,"  returned  Miss 
Honour,  with  dignity.     "It  was  my  father's  life-long 


THE   BLACK    PLUilE    EIFLES.  65 

desire  to  manumit  liis  slaves  ;  but  as  most  of  tliem  came 
to  him  by  way  of  dower  with  our  mother,  there  were 
imsurmountable  obstacles  in  the  way  of  his  carrying 
out  his  purpose ;  which  he  died  bequeathing  to  ns.  His 
intentions  we  could  easily  have  fulfilled  by  disposing  of 
this  2:>lace ;  but  could  we  let  Pre-Fleuri,  which  our  great 
grandfathers  made  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose, 
pass  into  the  hands  of  strans^ers?  ISTot  if  any  means  of 
ours  could  prevent  it.  Pre-Fleuri,  without  the  curtail- 
ment of  a  single  acre,  shall  be  handed  down  to  our 
nephew  Falkland  Courcelle,  the  only  male  survivor 
bearing  the  family  name.  God  willing,  we  will  also 
leave  our  servants  free,  and  with  some  provision -for  the 
future  ;  if  they  would  only  work  half  as  hard  as  we  do, 
this  might  easily  be  effected ;  but  they  would  ratber 
take  their  ease  when  they  can  get  it,  living  from  hand 
to  mouth,  than  to  lay  up  store  for  the  rainy  day,  which 
they  never  think  of  so  long  as  the  sun  shines,  l^ow, 
there's.  Jim,  weighs  two  hundred,  and  is  tough  as  a 
rhinoceros ;  with  the  exception  of  what  I  lay  out  for 
his  clothes,  I  promised  him  the  whole  of  his  wages  to 
put  by  as  a  fund  to  accumulate  for  the  support  of  his 
wife  and  children.  I  thought  the  idea  of  working  for 
himself  would  spur  him  on  to  make  the  most  of  his 
■  oj)portunities,  but  he  is  less  diligent  and  faithful  in 
others'  employ  than  he  was  in  ours.  I  have  often  asked 
myself  if  generations  of  forced  servitude  have  destroyed 
all  tendency  to  thrift  and  self-reliance  in  many  of  our 
colored  population  ;  if  they  have  been  so  long  habituated 
to  look  to  a  master  for  the  supply  of  all  their  wants  that 
they  are  no  longer  animated  by  a  desire  for  freedom 
and  the  means  of  obtaining  an  independent  support 
sufficiently  strong  to  make  them  put  forth  their  best  en- 
ergies to  grasp  the  same. 

"  I  hardly  think  this  can  be  so,  for  why  did  Prince 
Albert,  of  blessed  memory,  deliver  an  address,  in  w^hich 


66  THE    RIVAL    TOLUNTEERS;    OK,     ^ 

he  declared '  the  largest  of  all  the  classes  of  her  majesty's 
subjects  in  England  is  the  class  of  domestic  servants,'  to 
the  '  Servants  Provident  Society,'  if  they  had  not 
needed  stringent  reminder  of  the  duty  of  making  suit- 
able provision  for  their  declining  years?  That  they  do 
not  make  such  provision  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  a 
majority  of  their  number  look  forward  to  nothing  better 
than  an  old  age  of  pauperism,  with  the  ahnshouse,  per- 
haps, as  final  place  of  refuge  when  their  laboring  days 
are  over.  Kone  of  my  people  must  ever  be  allowed  to 
sink  into  a  state  of  beggary  and  destitution  like  that." 

"  What  do  you  want,  sir  ?" 

This  curt  interrogatory  was  addressed  to  a  cadaverous 
looking  individual,  seedy  and  threadbare  of  garb,  slouch- 
ing of  gait,  scowling  of  brow,  and  repellant  of  mien, 
who  had  approached  unseen,  and  paused  outside  the 
window. 

"  Something  to  eat,"  was  the  equally  curt  rejoinder. 

"  Why  should  an  able-bodied  man  like  you  beg, 
when  our  quota  is  not  made  up,  and  Government  needs 
every  arm  that  can  be  raised  in  its  defence  1" 

"  I  sprained  my  ankle  by  a  fall  three  days  ago,  all 
that  time  I  have  spent  dragging  myself  thus  far  toward 
home.  Give  me  a  piece  of  bread  or  I  shall  faint  with 
hunger  by  the  wayside." 

•*  Isn't  that  the  rebel  uniform  you  have  on  ?" 

"  I  scorn  to  deny  my  colors  ;  I  am  heart  and  hand 
with  the  cause  of  our  young  republic." 

"  Then,  go  ^starve ;  or  get  your  bread  from  the  trai- 
tors you  serve." 

"  iBeware,  madam,  beware." 

"  Beware  of  what,  insolent  vagabond  ?" 

'*  Beware  of  turning  a  famishing  man  empty-handed 
from  your  door  ;  beware  of  the  heavy  curse  with  which 
he  would  repay  the  pittance  withheld  from  his  sore 
necessities." 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    EIFLES.  67 

"  Do  give  liim  something,  Cousin  Honour,"  intreated 
Minnie,  with  troubled,  anxious  look. 

''Xot  a  crust,"  was  the  inflexible  rejoinder,  "will  1 
bestow  on  one  who  has  served  in  this  wicked  and  cause- 
less rebellion." 

With  a  fierce  malediction  the  man  turned  aw  a  v. 

"  I  would  not  like  to  have  any  one  give  me  a  look 
like  that,"  said  Minnie,  with  an  air  of  extreme  discom- 
posure. 

''  I've  learned  not  to  be  scared  before  I'm  hurt,"  was 
the  indilferent  reply.  '-The  fellow  has  enough  to  do 
looking  out  for  his  own  forage  without  seeking  to  do  me 
an  ill  turn." 

The  speaker  left  the  room  on  household  cares  intent. 
Looking  from  the  window,  Minnie  saw  the  stranger  pick 
up  a  cob,  on  which  a  few  kernels  of  corn  still  remained, 
and  crushing  the  same  beneath  the  heavy  hilt  of  his 
dirk,  devour  them  with  apparent  voracity. 

'"  He  shall  not  go  away  with  fierce  hunger  gnawing 
at  his  vitals,  if  I  have  to  sufier  myself  to  prevent  it," 
thouo-ht  she.     "  I  know  that  nothino^  here  is  mine  to  be- 

r  1 

stow  ;  but  I  can  go  without  my  dinner — that  is  mine 
while  father  pays  my  board — and  without  wronging 
any  one,  give  the  hungry  man  the  benefit  of  my  absti- 
nence." 

Hastening  into  the  pantry,  she  hurriedly  prepared 
some  sandwiches,  and  adding  to  the  same  a  slice  of 
cheese  and  a  strip  of  honeycomb,  speedily  overtook 
therewith  the  forlorn  outcast.  His  rugged  face  softened 
as  he  accepted  her  simple  oflering,  and  while  he 
lunched  off  the  grassy  mead,  she  folded  a  thick,  imper- 
vious leaf,  plucked  from  the  velvet  plant,  into  the  form 
of  a  cup,  and  filling  it  from  a  running  brook,  presented 
it  to  her  o-uest  lor  the  nonce.  On  resumino;  his  walk  he 
v>'as  pleased  graciously  to  observe, 

''  If  you  should  ever  stand  in  need  of  a  rebel's  aid, 


68  THE    P.IYAL   volunteers;    OPv, 

even  tlioiigli  it  should  be  mine — Lambeth,  don't  forget 
the  name — I  hope  it  may  be  as  freely  given  as  that  you 
have  rendered  unto  me." 

When  the  dinner  liour  drew  on,  Minnie  quietly  saun- 
tered forth  for  a  waik,  lioping  by  this  means  to  avoid 
the  embarrassment  of  unwelcome  questioning.  On  her 
return  she  was  met  by  Miss  Honour  witli  the  tart  in- 
junction, "You  must  learn  to  be  punctual  at  your 
meals,  or  you  won't  fare  very  well  while  you  are  with 
us ;  we  never  keep  the  table  waiting  for  anybody." 

"  I  am  very  glad,  Cousin  Honour,  that  you  did  not 
break  the  rule  on  my  account ;  when  I  am  not  punctual 
at  my  meals,  it  is  because  I  prefer  going  without  them  ; 
you  are  not  to  give  yourself  the  least  trouble  on  tliat 
score,  it  would  annoy  me  if  you  did." 

Minnie  spoke  in  a  mild,  even  tone,  as  with  air  serene, 
she  commenced  hemming  a  cambric  band. 

Miss  Courcelle  relented. 

"My  remark  was  merely  intended  as  a  caution  for 
the  future,"  she  said,  deprecatingly ;  "  living  a  life  of 
monotonous  routine,  my  sister  and  I,  it  is  but  natural 
that  we  should  grow  methodical  in  our  habits,  and  for 
the  short  time  you  are  to  remain  with  us,  it  will  be 
easier  for  you  to  conform  to  our  ways  than  for  us  to 
change  them." 

"  Most  certainly,"  assented  Minnie,  "  I  will  endeavor 
in  all  things  to  adapt  myself  to  the  mode  of  life  most 
agreeable  to  you." 

"  Spoken  like  the  sensible  girl  you  are ;  let  the  past 
be  overlooked  ;  come  out  with  me  and  get  some  dinner." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Cousin  Honour;  but  I  have 
already  told  you  that  if  I  had  cared  for  my  dinner  I 
should  have  been  here  at  the  appointed  time." 

"  Are  you  sick,  child  ?" 

"  Perfectly  well,  I  thank  you." 

"  You  needn't  thank  me,  there's  no  occasion  ;  I  never 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  69 


knew  a  porcupine  temper  before  amongstthe  Courcelles. 
Is  your  father  an  irascible  sort  of  person  ?" 

''My  lather  is  a  gentleman,-'  averred  Minnie,  with  a 
slight  show  of  resentment. 

'^^  And  yet  his  daughter  is  so  waspish  that  at  a  word 
of  reproof  she  flies  into  a  pet,  and  like  a  peevish,  self- 
willed  child  balked  of  its  whim,  sulks  and  lasts  the  whole 
day  long,  and  will  be  bought  over  to  good  behavior  bj 
nothino;  short  of  sugar-plums  and  penny  trumpets." 

"  I  a'ssure  you,  once  for  all,  that  I  am  not  in  the  least 
inclined  to  sulk ;  and  as  to  my  fasting,  I  have  a  reason 
for  that  which  is  perfectly  satisfactory^-  to  me,^  but  which 
I  could  scarcely  explain  to  your  satisfaction." 

Miss  Courcelle  was  not  accustomed  to  being  baffled 
and  mystified  in  this  w^ay,  and  her  ire  rose  accordingly. 
She  descanted  fluently  on  the  social  evils  wrought  by 
ill-judging  almsgivers  who  encourage  vagrancy  and 
pauperism  by  their  indiscriminate  gifts,  bestowed  alike 
upon  those  who  were  ready  to  lay  down  life  in  their 
country's  defence  and  those  who  were  striving,  by  any 
means,  fair  or  foul,  to  rend  it  asunder.  Not  that  any  of 
her  strictures  were  addressed  to  Minnie,  whose  presence 
she  studiously  ignored,  even  at  tea-table,  failing  to  ex- 
tend to  her  those  little  civilities  ordinarily  incident 
thereto.  It  was  in  sadly  dejected  mood  that  the  weary 
girl  betook  herself  to  her  room  for  the  night. 

As  she  sat  with  her  head  bowed  on  her  hands,  her  re- 
flections were  far  from  inspiriting. 

"  I  verily  thought  I  was  doing  a  good  and  charitable 
deed  in  practising  an  act  of  self-denial  for  the  benefit  of 
a  famishing  fellow-creature;  but  Honour  has  so  confused 
my  perceptions  of  goodness  and  mercy  by  persistently 
harping  on  the  folly  of  encouraging  vagrancy  and  the 
criminality  of  givino;  aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy,  that 
I  am  half  persuaded  my  conduct  has  been  rather  repre- 
hensible than  otherwise,"  pondered  the  bewildered  girl. 


TO  THE   KIVAL   Y0LXJ2fTEZRS  ;    OK, 

"  Good  intentions  are  certainly  meritorious,  so  far  as 
they  go,  but  there  are  so  many  ^vays  of  carrying  them 
out !  and  if  one  happens  to  take  a  wrong  one,  or  even  a 
misstep  in  a  right,  down  one  plumps  into  the  very  depths 
of  despair.  If  one  could  only  do  exactly  as  other  folks 
do,  it  would  be  a  great  saving  of  perplexity,  though  it 
must  be  fearfully  irksome  and  humdrum  to  be  all  trudg- 
ing along  together  in  the  dusty,  beaten  highway,  when 
the  wild  birds  are  singing,  the  cool  dews  sparkling,  and 
the  water  voices  rippling  sweet,  in  the  scented  hedge- 
rows hiding,  mayhap,  a  thorn,  to  pierce  over  venture- 
some hand.  How  I  have  flattered  myself  that  my  intel- 
ligence was  quite  equal  to  that  of  the  average  of  woman- 
kind ;  now,  i  incline  to  the  belief  that  that  opinion  was 
nothing  more  than  a  snare  and  a  delusion  calculated  to 
entrap  me  into  the  commission  of  all  sorts  of  absurdi- 
ties which  I  should  have  avoided  if  I  had  entertained  a 
more  moderate  estimate  of  my  own  faculties.  I  have 
been  simply  wise  in  my  own  conceit ;  there  is  no  blink- 
ing the  fact,  which  won't  become  the  more  j^leasant  from 
fearing  to  look  it  fall  in  the  face.  How  sure  I  was  that 
I  had  secured  the  strong,  deathless  regard  that  was  to 
be  my  shield  and  safeguard  for  a  lifetime — now  I  am 
sure  of  nothing  save  the  unspeakably  dreary  present. 
Xot  a  line  have  I  received  from  Mr.  Caruthers,  not 
even  so  much  as  an  inquiry  after  my  welfare,  since  I 
came  here,  although  our  wedding-day  is  appointed,  and 
my  bridal  robe,  with  its  laces  and  flutings,  lays  half  hn- 
ished  on  my  bed  at  home.  Xeglect  is  the  portion  meted 
out  to  me,  devoted  attention  quite  likely  being  reserved 
for  another.  I  never  exchanged  words  with  Lucy  Sears, 
but  I  feel  capable  of  hating  her  desperately." 

There  Avas  a  light  tap  at  the  door,  followed  by  the  im- 
mediate entrance  of  Jtliss  Courcelle. 

''  Here  is  a  letter  marked  '  With  dispatch,' "  said  she, 
"  so  I  brought  it  you  at  once." 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  71 

A  brilliant  glow  flashed  over  Minnie's  tell-tale  face  as 
she  took  the  welcome  missive,  with  the  instantaneous 
conviction  that  it  came  from  him  who  held  her  thoughts 
in  sway.  She  could  not  read  it  with  those  cold,  unsym- 
pathetic eyes  upon  her,  ready  to  note  every  trilling 
change  of  expression.  Finding  she  had  nothing  to  gain 
by  prolonging  her  stay,  Miss  Honour  considerately  ter- 
minated it.  With  beaming  glance  Minnie  examined  her 
letter's  address,  which  was  in  the  handwriting  of  her 
father.  The  lirst  revulsion  of  thwarted  expectancy 
chased  the  roses  from  her  cheek,  then  she  reproached 
herself  bitterly  for  the  filial  ingratitude  of  which  she 
had  been  guilty,  in  casting  aside  as  of  little  worth,  the 
loving-kindness  which  had  crowned  all  her  days  with 
blessing,  while  remembering  but  too  faithfully  one  who 
gave  not  faithful  remembrance  in  response. 

She  broke  the  envelope  with  listless  languor,  possess- 
ing herself  of  the  contents  inclosed. 

Mr.  Brandon  had  been  ill  with  a  feverish  cold,  which 
had  greatly  aggravated  the  bronchial  aifection  from  which 
he  had  been  long  a  sufferer.  He  had  reached  the  city 
on  his  return  journey,  and  would  have  driven  out  for 
her  that  afternoon,  but  fearing  the  effect  of  the  chill 
night  air,  had  concluded  to  wait  until  morning,  when 
she  might  look  for  his  early  arrival. 

Full  of  a  tender  compunction  for  the  little  thought 
she  had  bestowed  during  his  absence  on  one  who  had 
watched  over  her  own  welfare  with  untiring  solicitude, 
she  retired  to  rest. 

ISTo  sweet  dreams  soothed  her  light  and  broken  slum- 
bers. Men's  hoarse  voices,  a  woman's  cry  of  distress, 
startled  her  from  sleep  unrestful ;  both  voice  and  cry 
were  real. 


72 


CHAPTER    Y. 

IsO      EAY     OF     CHEER. 

The  burning  smart  in  lier  eyes  on  awakening,  Minnie 
at  first  assumed  to  be  the  result  of  having  ''  cried  her- 
self to  sleep  ;"  but  quickly  became  aware  that  her  room 
"svas  rapidly  filling  with  a  dense  smoke.  Terror  gave 
speed  to  her  movements  as  she  hastily  dressed  herself, 
lier  chamber  was  in  a  wing  at  a  rear  angle  of  the  house, 
to  the  front  of  which  she  could  onl}^  gain  access  by  de- 
scending one  flight  of  stairs  and  ascending  a  second. 
She  opened  the  door  and  stepj)ed  upon  the  landing, 
caught  a  glimpse  of  the  fiercely  darting  tongues  of 
hungry  flame  lapping  the  staircase  mouldings,  shut  out 
quickly  the  heavy  sutfocating  volumes  of  smoke  envelop- 
ing her,  and  sought  some  safer  mode  of  egress.  Softly 
raising  a  window  commanding  a  partial  view  of  the 
main  body  of  the  dwelling,  she  saw  a  7iumber  of  horses 
tied  to  a  railing  near  the  barn ;  heard  Miss  Courcelle's 
stifled  cries  for  help,  piteous  appeals  for  mercy — cries 
and  appeals  answered  by  cruel  taunts  and  mocking, 
brutal  jibes  that  sent  a  creeping  sensation  to  the  roots 
of  her  hair,  filling  her  with  an  overpowering  desire  to 
escape  from  those  capable  of  utterance  so  revolting. 
Slie  could  hear  the  loud  bang  of  doors,  the  fall  of  heavy 
footsteps  below,  and  felt  that  there  was  no  time  to  be 
lost  in  eflecting  her  retreat. 

Closing  the  window  as  noiselessly  as  it  had  been 
opened,  she  cautiously  raised  the  one  at  the  gable  end 
of  the  room,  crept  therefrom  to  the  roof  of  a  porch  ad- 
joining, reached  the  ground  by  aid  of  a  grape  trellis, 
and  was  away  on  fleet  step  she  knew  not,  scarcely  cared 
whither,  if  she  might  but  evade  detection,  avoid  pur- 


THE    BLACK    FLUME    RIFLES.  73 

Biiit.  The  skj  was  partially  overcast ;  but  the  moon, 
occasionally  emerging  from  its  cloudy  screen,  gave  suf- 
ficient lii!;ht  to  prove  that  she  was  traversing  the  short- 
est and  most  direct  path  leading  to  the  sparsely  wooded 
upland  slope  where  she  hoped  to  find  safe  refuge  until 
dawn,  which  could  not  be  lar  oK  She  had  soon  more 
liglit  than  was  at  all  desirable.  Tiie  devouring  flames 
had  twined  in  fiery  folds  about  the  upper  portions  of  the 
dwelling,  towering  heavenward  in  the  majesty  of  resist- 
less might,  casting  a  lurid  glare  on  objects  far  and  near. 
Di-eading  discovery  and  capture  above  all  else,  she 
glanced  eagerly  about  in  search  of  a  temporary  hiding- 
place.  Assuredly,  near  the  place  where  she  was  stand- 
ing, there  was  formerly  a  shepherd's  hut ;  true,  but  its 
site  was  now  blackened  by  a  smouldering  heap  of  ruins, 
and  what  had  been  its  tenant  hung  dangling,  a  lifeless 
mass,  from  a  lower  limb  of  the  Chickasaw  plum-tree, 
which  in  life  had  been  the  old  man's  pride  and  delight. 

A  dihipidated  sheep-pen  afibrded  the  covert  she  sought. 
Scarcely^had  she  availed  herself  of  its  shelter,  when  a  low, 
regular  sound  on  the  ground  beside  her  added  greatly 
to'^her  alarm.  "More  triumphantly  leaped  heavenward 
the  eartli-fed  flames,  illumining  with  more  vivid  glare 
all  the  landscape  round.  By  this  added  light  Minnie 
saw,  with  a  shiver  of  terror,  that  she  was  standing^  be- 
side the  sleeping  figure  of  a  man  wearing  the  Confede- 
rate uniform.  She  could  even  detect  the  outlines  of  his 
musket,  the  glitter  of  the  unsheathed  knife  grasped  in 
his  hand. 

With  bated  breath  and  cautious  tread  she  stole  from 
her  transient  place  of  shelter,  and  swiftly  sped  toward 
the  wooded  slope.  The  shades  of  night  deepened  about 
her;  the  roof  of  the  burning  house  had  fallen  in,  and 
the  moon  was  veiled  in  a  fleecy  cloud.  Hark !  is  it  the 
sound  of  a  footstep  she  hears  in  close  pursuit  ?  Trem- 
bling with  fright,   every  nerve   strung  to  its  highest 

4 


7-i  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

pitch  of  intensity,  every  muscle  strained  to  extremest 
effort,  she  paused  not  to  ask  herself  if  her  pursuer  might 
not  be  a  phantom  of  her  own  overwrought  fancv  ;  but, 
"without  so  much  as  turning  her  head  over  her  shoukler 
to  convince  herself  by  sight  that  it  was  no  hideous  delu- 
sion inspiring  her  with  vain  terrors,  she  fied  straight  on 
toward  the  sanctuary  she  had  first  proposed  to  herself 
as  a  goal. 

The  wood  is  almost  gained.  Beneath  the  shelter  of 
a  low-hanging  branch  of  a  hackberry-tree  she  safely 
passes ;  but  in  flying  the  ills  she  knew,  she  has  given  no 
heed  to  those  she  wot  not  of,  and  is  first  reminded  of 
the  same  by  finding  herself  in  the  powerful  grasp  of  a 
manly  arm. 

Her  stifled  shriek  was  instantly  suppressed  through 
affect  of  the  reassuring  whisper  :  "  Hush  !  you  are  safe  ; 
it  is  I,  Morland  Ellsmead." 

Tlie  act  of  stooping  to  utter  those  whispered  words 
in  all  human  probability  saved  the  speaker's  life,  as  a 
musket-ball  whizzed  through  the  empty  space  his  head 
had  just  previously  occupied,  and  lodged  in  the  splin- 
tered trunk  of  the  tree  behind  him.  He  bore  her,  half 
fainting  with  terror,  to  the  protecting  shelter  of  a  shelv- 
ing bank,  and  leaving  her  there,  crept  cautiously  and 
stealthily  back,  peering  with  strained  and  eager  gaze  at 
every  suspicious-looking  object  that  might  by  any  pos- 
sibility resolve  itself  into  a  lurking  assassin's  form.  Fail- 
ing to  discover  any  trace  of  his  late  assailant,  he  return- 
ed to  the  terror-stricken  fugitive,  whose  forlorn  help- 
lessness furnished  claim  indisj)utable  on  every  kindly 
oliice  in  his  power  to  render. 

'•  Do  !iOt  leave  n^e,"  she  entreated  :  "  I  am  so  thankful 
to  be  in  char.ge  of  one  1  can  fully  and  freely  trust." 

The  assurance  of  perfect  confidence,  thus  unwittingly 
conveyed,  fell  as  gratefully  on  the  ear  of  her  listener  as 
genial  sun-ray  on  plant  benumbed  and  chill. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    EIFLE3.  75 

*^  Hush  !  an  incautious  sound  may  bring  destruction 
on  us  both,"  he  said,  warninglv,  in  tone  so  subdued  that 
it  was  only  by  an  effort  tha^  she  caught  the  import  of 
his  words. 

He  T)ressed  his  liand  firmly,  in  token  of  silence,  on  the 
restless,  trembling  foot  tha'r,  with  unconscious  flutter 
amongst  the  dry  leaves  on  the  bank,  might  have  betrayed 
their  proximity  to  lurking  foe.  She  instantly  controlled 
this  outward  token  of  inward  tremor,  and  only  the  night 
wind's  gentle  plaint  breathed  through  the  catalpas  of 
sadness  "and  of  sighing. 

A  faint  streak  of  grey  in  the  east  betokened  the  com- 
ing dawn  ;  and  by  its  aid  she  was  able  to  discern  objects 
which  had  hitherto  escaped  her  observation.  Grasping 
her  companion's  arm,  she  pointed,  with  a  thrill  of  appre- 
hension, to  the  crouching  figure  of  an  armed  man  who 
was  gradually  nearing  them  by  slow  and  guarded  ap- 
proach, -^r    -r^n 

^'  Only  a  companion  sentinel,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Ellsmead ; 
"  there  are  a  long  line  of  us  belonging  to  the  outposts  in 
the  rear.  That  is  a  signal  of  danger  he  is  giving  me. 
Hist !  that  slight  stir  in  the  leaves  may  be  forerunner  of 
fatal  blow."  ,, 

"  It  is  but  the  wind  moaning  through  the  catalpas. 
Enjoining  silence  by  gesture  imperative,  he  crept 
away  from  her,  taking  advantage  of  bush,  tree,  shadow 
and  hillock  to  mask  his  stealthy  advance;  A  few  ram- 
utes,  and  he  was  lost  to  her  sight.  Her  heart  beat 
audiblv,  as  with  anxious  longing  she  awaited  his  return. 
The  piercing  call  of  a  night-bird  rung  shrilly  forth  on 
the  silent  air,  instantly  succeeded  by  the  sharp  report  of 
a  musket. 

A  sensation  of  tingling  pain  shot  through  her  nerves. 
Had  she  looked  her  last  on  Morland  Ellsmead?  Wel- 
come sight,  that  of  his  returning  figure.  She  gave 
him    her  hand    frankly,   in  words,   few   and   glowing, 


70  THE  mvAL  volunteers;  or, 

expressing  her  joj  and  relief  tliat  he  was  still  un- 
harmed. 

Passing  her,  he  approached  the  next  sentinel  on  guard 
sufficiently  near  to  communicate  with  him  by  means  of 
telegrapliic  signals  from  the  hand,  receiving  similar 
telegram  in  reply.  With  a  heavy  sigh,  as  of  one  re- 
lieved by  the  performance  of  a  duty  painful  but  inexor- 
able, her  companion  resumed  his  weary  watch.  lie 
climbed  a  tree  somewhat  overlooking  its  fellows,  and 
with  a  powerful  pocket-glass  swept  the  prospect  for 
miles  around.  Day  was  breaking  fast,  and  afforded 
him  clear  view  for  his  fruitless  survey. 

"We  are  seldom  molested  after  this  hour,"  said  he,  on 
his  descent ;  "  I  may  venture  now  to  ask  what  brought 
you  here  at  such  a  time  ?" 

"  The  house  where  I  was  stopping  with  relatives,  while 
my  father  was  away  at  Chicago,  was  set  on  fire  by  rebel 
guerillas,  I  suppose,  and  I  lied  for  dear  life." 

"  That,  then,  was  the  fiame  I  saw  reddening  up  the 
whole  southern  sky  ?" 

"  Quite  likely.  'Now  let  me  ask  you  a  question,  Mor- 
land.  I  heard  the  report  of  a  musket  while  you  were 
away  from  me.     What  did  it  mean  V^ 

"  It  meant  that  I  had  traced  the  prowling  villain  who 
shot -at  me  to  his  secret  skulking-place ;  and  I  did  not 
forget  the  brave  comrades  who  have  been  picked  off 
from  our  line  by  this  sharpshooter's  aim." 

A  prolonged  shiver  shook  her  frame. 

"  You  are  more  than  half  afraid  of  the  man  who,  for 
any  cause,  defaces  form  created  in  his  Maker's  image," 
he  doubtfully  suggested. 

'•  It  is  not  that,  Morland  ;  but  an  enemy  defeated  is 
an  enemy  no  longer,  and  it  is  terrible  to  think  of  a  fel- 
low-being wrestling  alone  with  his  death-agony,  while 
we  are  so  near." 

"  Set  your  heart  at  rest  on  that  point.     I  startled  him 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  77 

from  his  lurking  place  by  a  ventriloqiial  trick  nature 
gave  me  tlie  faculty  for  practising,  and — my  aim  was 
sure.  I  know  better  than  you,  because  through  stern 
experience,  the  fearful  responsibilities  of  a  soldier's  life  ; 
and  knowing,  I  do  not -shrink  from  accepting  them  even 
when  it  comes  to  taking  the  life  of  others  or  to  render- 
ing up  my  own.  One  can  do  no  more  than  yield  up 
life  for  a  friend,  and  for  one's  country— the  dear,  native 
mother  earth  that  smiles  at  us  through  tears  and  flowers, 
feeds  us  from  her  bounteous  stores,  clothes  us  in  coats 
of  many  colors,  and  when  we  have  done  with  her  gra- 
cious gifts,  folds  us  tenderly  away  in  the  last  close 
embrace  mortal  may  know — when  torn  by  faction, 
wounded  in  the  house  of  its  friends,  one  can  do  no  less. 
Deeds  committ-ed  in  individual  self-defence,  however 
unjustifiable,  in  themselves  considered,  are  sometimes 
pardoned,  nay,  approved,  for  the  sake  of  the  motive 
prompting  their  commission  ;  but  when  it  is  the  national 
existence  which  is  at  stake,  how  much  more  heroic  and 
exalted  the  incentive  impelling  those  rallying  to  the 
rescue,  to  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  country  every  blessing 
that  country  has  given  ;  all  that  makes  life  precious ; 
life  itself,  if  that  alone  will  serve  the  country's  needs. 
From  no  mean,  mercenary  motive  ;  for  no  cause  less 
sacred  than  that  which  tires  the  ardent  patriot's  breast, 
would  I  consent  to  battle  unto  death  with  those  who  are 
foes  to  me  through  the  simple  reason  that  they  are  foes 
i;o  a  government  which  has  not  only  ruled  its  own  peo- 
ple with  mild,  beneficent  sw&y,  but  has  provided  happy 
refuge  %)V  thousands  of  the  oppressed  from  foreign  lands, 
who  now  bring  brave  hearts  and  willing  hands  to  the 
support  of  their  foster-land.  But  enough  of  this  ;  if  you 
supped  on  horrors,  that  is  no  reason  why  you  should 
be  forced  to  breakfast  on  the  same.  I  hear  you  are  to 
be  married  soon." 

He  could  not  have  introduced  less  grateful  topic  of 
discourse.     She  merely  bowed  an  afiirmative. 


78  THE    EIVAL   VOLUXTEEKS;    OE, 

"  I  never  should  liavo  sought  yon  to  ask  the  question  ; 
but  since  opj^ortunity  so  kindly  befriends  nie,  pray 
gratify  my  curiosity  by  telling  me  why  you  singled  out 
Mr.  Oarutbers  from  all  other  adorers  as  the  fiivorcd 
individual  to  be  blest  with  that  little  monosyllable 
outside  barbarians  might  sigh  their  lives  out  in  vain  to 
win." 

The  inflated  style  in  which  this  query  was  proposed, 
by  reminding  her  of  the  continuous  neglect  she  had 
received  from  one  who  held  her  plighted  troth  as  though 
it  were  a  gift  scarce  worth  the  holding,  stung  her  "to 
quick  and  impatient  retort. 

''  Do  talk  like  a  rational  being,  Morland.  The  train 
of  adorers  you  so  liberally  bestow  on  me  is  but  a  myth 
of  your  own  fancying.  Scatter  the  shadows  that  people 
your  dreams  ;  it  can'be  no  difhcult  task." 

"  Your  word  is  law.  Presto !  change  !  begone  !  There 
they  vanish  ;  but  here  remains  Mr.  Caruthers  ;  why,  in 
preference  to  all  the  others,  was  he  made  the  happy 
recipient  of  your  lifelong  regard  ?" 

"  Must  I  tell  you  again  that  '  all  the  others '  didn't 
care  a  straw  for  me  ?  He  did,  or  seemed  to  do  so.  If 
that  isn't  a  good  reason,  I  can't  help  it ;  I  don't  keep 
the  commodity  ready  cut  and  dried  to  dispense  in  justi- 
fication of  every  step  I  take.  Men  reason  from  the 
head,  women  from  the  heart." 

"  Ah  !  then  this  is  an  affair  of  the  heart." 

Her  cheek  flushed  and  her  eye  lit ;  but  she  vouch- 
safed no  verbal  reply  to  this  indirect  query.  He  saw 
that  he  had  disconcerted,  possibly  provoked,  Jfer,  and 
changing  his  tactics,  arming  himself  with  the  lighter 
weapons  of  gay  ])ersiflarje^  he  returned  with  renev/ed 
zest  to  the  attack. 

"  I  can  fancy  Mr.  Caruthers  making  out  schedules  of 
lading,  examining  invoices  of  merchandise,  fingering 
drafts,  acceptances  and  bills  of  exchange ;  but  imagina- 
tion utterly  fails  when  I  try  to  put  my  mind's  eye  on 


THE    BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  T9 

Mr.  Carutliers  enacting  tlie  role  of  sigliing  Bwain  and 
beseeching  lover." 

"  I  don't  see  why  yon  should  put  yourself  to  the  trou- 
ble of  any  such  uncalled  for  stretch  of  fancy,"  Minnie 
dryly  retorted. 

u  Yery  true  ;  when  you  can  so  easily  render  "unneces- 
sary any  further  blundering  attempts  in  that  direction. 
Take  pity  on  one  of  the  uninitiated,  and  give  me  some 
vague  idea  of  the  terms  in  which  our  brave  wooer  urged 
his  successful  suit." 

''  I  have  half  a  mind  to  quarrel  with  you  seriously, 
instead.  Mr.  Caruthers  is  no  sighing  swain,  no  love- 
sick boy  to  make  a  fool  of  himself  by  prating  of  sickly 
sentiment ;  he  just  asked  me  in  straightforward,  manly 
fashion  to  marry  him,  and  that  was  enough." 

It  was  now  Morland's  turn  to  redden  with  resentment 
called  forth  by  the  unwonted  bitterness  of  her  tone,  and 
the  contemptuous  emphasis  he  thought  she  had  placed 
on  the  word  "  boy,"  intended,  so  he  supposed,  as  scorn- 
ful reminder  of  the  fact  of  his  having  recently  attained 
his  majority.  Piqued  and  indignant,  he  was  thrown 
ofi'  the  strict  guard  he  had  hitherto  maintained  over 
himself,  and  to  his  lips  leaped  hasty,  impulsive  words 
he  regretted  almost  as  soon  as  spoken. 

"  It  would  not  have  been  enough,"  he  asserted  with 
warmth,  "  if  I  had  been  in  Mr.  Caruthers'  position.  I 
pity  the  man  with  soul  so  dead  that  he  can't  talk  senti- 
ment and  act  it,  too,  on  fitting  occasions.  Given  Mr. 
Cg-ruthers'  opportunity,  I  should  inevitably  have  made 
a  fool. of  myself  by  saying,  '  I  love  you,'  Minnie,  before 
venturing  on  the  proposal  that  would  have  sealed  my 
fate." 

She  drew  a  little  aside  from  him,  with  an  air  of  quiet, 
womanly  reserve. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Ellsmead,  but  this  topic  is 
distasteful  to  me  ;  we  will  change  it,  if  you  please,  for 
another." 


80  THE   RIVAL   VOLUlsTTEERS;    OE, 

The  topic  was  dropped  abrnptlj  instead  of  being 
exchanged  for  another.  Mr.  Ellsmead  concealed  his 
enibarrassment  by  turning  his  back  on  his  companion 
and  examining  tlie  contents  of  his  cartridge  box,  while 
saying  to  himself,  ''A  most  precious  noodle  am  I;  I 
needn't  have  told  her  that  I  should  inevitably  make  a 
fool  of  myself  if  opportunity  were  but  given  ;  any  dolt 
might  predict  that  without  the  help  of  astrology." 

"]S'ow,  that  it  is  nearly  sunrise,  I  think  I  might 
return  to  Pre-Fleuri,"  proposed  Minnie,  with  ill-con- 
cealed uneasiness. 

"Return  to  the  site  of  a  house  that  lias  been 
burned  ;  across  a  district  infested  by  guerillas  ;  absurd  ! 
the  third  relief  will  soon  take  our  places,  and  then  I 
will  give  you  in  charge  to  the  sergeant  or  corporal  who 
will,  without  doubt,  be  able  to  devise  some  means  of 
restoring  you  to  your  friends." 

She  oj^ened  lier  eyes  wide  in  startled  wonderment. 

"Have  I  been  guilty  of  transgressing  any  of  your 
laws  and  regulations  by  CvTming  within  your  lines,  that 
you  propose  surrendering  me  to  official  control  ?" 

"  That  is  the  best  means  I  can  devise  for  ensuring 
your  safe  departure." 

"  Thank  you  ;  but  when  my  fatlier,  who  comes  to 
carry  me  home  this  morning,  finds  only  a  beap  of  ruins 
in  place  of  the  house  where  lie  expects  to  find  me,  he 
will  be  deeply  anxious  on  my  account.  I  must  prevent 
this  by  being  on  the  spot  to  explain  to  him  what  has 
happened.  I  am  not  afraid,  by  daylight,  to  cross  the 
open  fields  alone;  I  would  much  rather  do  so  than  sub- 
ject you  to  the  awkwardness  of  explaining  to  guard 
officials  the  cause  of  my  accidental  appearance  bere." 

"  Then  I  will  accompany  you  to  the  end  of  my  beat, 
and  protect  you  while  you  are  within  range  of  my  mus- 
ket ;  more  I  cannot  do." 

She  rose  instantly,  and  he  walked  beside  ber,  silent 
and  sad,  detaining  her  a  moment  at  parting. 


THE    BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  81 

"  We  may  never  meet  again,  Miss  Brandon ;  pardon 
mj  tlionglitless,  ill-considered  speech ;  and  give  me 
some  word  of  kindly  farewell." 

"  It  is  I,  Morland,  who  ought  rather  to  entreat  yonr  par- 
don for  veiling  my  real  feelings  in  utterances  whose  inex- 
plicable bitterness  you  quite  naturally  resented.  I  was 
so  sore  at  heart  that  your  light  words  were  as  a  sharp 
probe  from  which  I  shrank.  Grateful  remembrances 
for  your  timely  succor,  I  shall  always  cherish.  Good- 
bye." 

From  leafy  covert  he  watched  her  retreating  figure. 
The  golden  sunlight  flooded  vale  and  slope,  but  day's 
lovely  radiance  was  lost  on  him  for  the  shadow  that  lay 
darkling  at  his  heart. 

''  Young,  admired,  with  a  brilliant  marriage  in  pros- 
pect, she  is  yet  unhappy,"  thought  he ;  ''  would  that  I 
had  the  riglit  to  claim  her  coniidence,  to  comfort  and 
console.  It  is  well,  I  suppose,  to  proclaim  the  vanity 
of  riches,  and  to  inveigh  against  the  same,  but  there  are 
cases  in  which  liltliy  lucre  alone  can  act  as  counterpoise 
to  the  happiness  of  a  man's  life.  If  I  had  possessed  but 
a  tithe  of  Caruthers'  glittering  dross  wherewith  to  pro- 
vide her  a  fitting  home,  he  would  have  found  an  ear- 
nest and  determined  rival  in  his  path.  I  richly  deserved 
the  rebuff  she  gave  me,  and  like  her  none  the  less  for 
having  had  the  sense  and  spirit  to  bestow  it.  Strange 
that  she,  of  all  women,  should  have  found  her  way 
here,  when  I  have  so  scrupulously  avoided  her  ever 
since  I  discovered  that  she  was  coming  between  me  and 
my  own  thoughts,  in  a  way  that  left  me  fit  to  think  of 
nothing  else.  She  is  wondrous  fair,  and  I  must  forget 
if  I  would  be  free." 

She  stopped  at  the  sheep-pen  whence,  scarcely  two 
hours  before,  she  had  fled  in  wildest  dismay,  and 
through  the  chinks  at  its  side,  surveyed  the  smoking 
embers   marking   the  scene  of  the  fire.     It  was  nine 

4* 


S2  THE    KIYAL   VOLUXTEEES  ;    OR, 

o'clock  when  her  father  arrived,  by  which  time  a  num- 
ber of  neighboring  farmers  had  collected  in  little  knots, 
talking  excitedly.  From  one  of  these  Mr.  Brandon 
withdrew,  as  his  danghter  approached,  saying  hurriedly: 

"  Let  us  go,  child  ;  this  is  no  place  for  you." 

She  noticed  that  his  hand  shook  as  he  helped  her  into 
their  gig, 

"  Did  you  learn,"  she  asked,  ^'  what  became  of  Cou- 
sin Honour  and  Wilhelmine  ?" 

"  I  did,  Minnie ;  but  there  is  no  use  in  speaking  of 
what  is  all  over.  They  are  beyond  reach  of  harm  now, 
and  there  is  no  need  of  harrowing  up  my  feelings  by 
recounting  deeds  of  brutal  iiendishness  that  will,  sooner 
or  later,  recoil  on  their  perpetrators  if  there  is  justice  on 
earth  or  in  Heaven." 

"  I  see  that  you  are  looking  pale  and  worn,"  she  sub- 
joined, instantly  taking  the  cue  he  had  given.  ''  Was  it 
iDad  news  that  called  you  to  Chicago  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  news  of  the  fatal  illness  of  a  tried  and  valued 
friend.     Do  you  remember  Dr.  Thornton  ?" 

*'  Quite  well.  He  was  a  liberal  Christian  gentleman, 
as  ready  to  encourage  real  worth  as  to  rebuke  fraud 
and  pretence  ;  his  wife  was  a  true  gentlewoman,  too." 

"  !She  ^is  in  great  aiHiction  now.  Her  husband 
breathed  his  last  on  the  very  day  of  my  arrival,  and  she 
is  left  in  destitute  circumstances.  The  doctor  was 
always  too  generous  for  his  own  good.  To  the  needy 
but  meritorious  students  of  his  Institute,  his  charges 
were  almost  nominal ;  he  endorsed  for  friends  and  lost 
heavily  by  the  process ;  and  the  disease  of  which  he 
died  was  contracted  in  gratuitous  attendance  on  a 
deserted  outcast  to  v/hom  no  one  else  acted  the  part  of 
good  Samaritan.  She  came  on  with  me  as  far  as  the 
city,  where  she  purposes  renting  a  small  house  of  Mr. 
Caruthers — she  is  a  relative  of  the  family,  she  tells  me 
— and  supporting  herself  by  taking  boarders." 


THE    BLACK   PLU^IE   RIFLES.  83 

«  What,  then,  becomes  of  the  Medical  Institute  of 
wliicli  Dr.  Thornton  was  head  ?" 

"  It  will  be  closed  for  the  present,  and  I  shall  take 
charge  of  one  of  the  departments— its  duties  will  not  be 
burdensome,  or  consume  too  much  of  my  time— when 
it  is  reopened ;  that  is,  as  soon  as  you  and  Mr.  Caru- 
thers  are  married,  if  you  ever  are."  -,  .     t     ^ 

The  significant  emphasis  he  placed  on  this  doubt- 
implyino;  particle  made  her  sicken  with  apprehension 
of  whatVas  to  follow.  She  strove  to  start  some  other 
subject  of  discourse,  no  matter  what  its  theme,  so  it 
trenched  not  on  the  one  topic  to  which  she  dreaded 
even  to  allude,  and  forced  herself  to  the  utterance  of 
those  trivial  platitudes  so  often  used  to  conceal  the 
gnawings  of  hidden  pain. 

In  the  close  companionship  of  home,  Mr.  Brandon 
could  not  fail  to  note  the  great  change  that  had  come 
over  his  sole  surviving  child.  Her  moods  were  change- 
ful and  uncertain,  corresponding  with  the  feeling  ot 
doubt  and  uncertainty  shrouding  her  future.  Periods 
of  forced  and  fitful  gaiety  surrendered  without  apparent 
cause  to  attacks  of  profound  depression.  Shunning  him 
in  a  measure,  when  with  him  she  read  aloud  for  his 
gratification,  or  kept  up  an  incessant  flow  of  small-talk 
that  baffled  his  penetration  and  allayed  the  anxiety  her 
pale  face  and  drooping  gait  might  otherwise  have 
occasioned. 

Mr.  Brandon,  having  occasion  to  go  to  the  city,  m- 
vited  his  daughter  to  accompany  him,  an  invitation  she 
promptly  declined. 

Tlie  instant  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  him  on  his  return, 
she  said  to  herself,  "  He  brings  me  ill  tidings,  and  I  am 
not  prepared  to  hear  them  with  composure.  I  cannot 
meet  him  quite  yet ;  I  must  have  time  to  steady  my 
nerves— to  school  myself  into  listening  to  whatever  he 
may  have  to  tell,  without  betraying  that  wretched  weak- 


84:  TTTE    r.IVAL   Y0LU2s-TEERS  ;    OR, 

ness  to  T^'liich,  until  I  was  tried  and  found  lacking,  I 
tliono^ht  I  had  too  much  character  to  yield.  To  what 
depths  of  selt-abasenient  liave  I  fallen  when  I  can  thus 
be  moved  at  thought  of  one  who  gives  no  thought  to  me. 
I  could  despise  m^^self  for  so  feebly  submitting  to  this 
galling  chain  of  bondage  ;  but  self-loatln'ng  cannot  be 
mine  to  bear  so  long  as  the  knowledge  of  my  infirmity  is 
safe  in  my  own  keeping,  and  the  darts  of  ridicule,  cold 
comment  or  contemptuous  pity  cannot  be  levelled  at 
me.  I  shall  bless  the  day  in  which  I  can  return  his 
neglect  with  an  indifference  that  is  not  feigned  ;  but  such 
victory  conies  not  yet." 

''Minnie,"  called  Mr.  Brandon,  from  the  foot  of  the 
staircase,  "  I  have  something  particular  to  say  to  you  ; 
come  down." 

"  I  knew  it,"  thought  she  ;  then  to  him  over  the 
baluster,  "  I  will  be  with  you  in  a  minute,  father." 

Dashing  the  tears  from  her  eyes,  and  laving  them 
from  the  contents  of  her  water-basin,  she  descended  with 
tranquil  air,  a  snatcli  of  song  on  her  smiling  lips,  to  the 
sitting-room.  So  little  do  we  often  know  of  the  real  life 
of  those  whom  we  meet  daily  at  the  social  board,  with 
wliom  we  share  the  same  sheltering  roof,  and  to  whom 
we  deem  ourselves  bound  by  closest  ties  of  kinship  and 
of  confidence. 

"  I  saw  Mr.  Caruthers  in  the  city  to-day,"  her  father 
remarked,  exactly  as  she  had  expected  he  would  remark. 
"  Let  us  not  talk  of  him,  please.  So  long  as  he  does 
not  see  fit  to  intrust  to  me  any  information  regarding 
hi^  plans  and  movements,  I  would  rather  hear  nothing 
Oi'tiie  same,  not  even  the  mention  of  his  name." 

Ml".  Brandon  noticed  tiiat,  though  lier  voice  was 
steiidy,  her  accent  firm,  her  face  was  white  and  rigid 
with  unflinching  cflbrt  at  self-control.  "With  impulse  of 
tenderest  compassion,  he  drew  her  to  his  side. 

"  Do  not  suppose  that  I  am  blind,  and  cannot  see  what 


THE   BLACK    PLrME   HTFLlES.  85 

you  are  enduring,  dear  child ;  you  may  suffer  and  give 
no  sign  in  words,  but  I  discover  your  grief,  and  share  it, 
for  ail  that." 

"  Don't  degrade  me  in  my  own  esteem  by  pityiug  my 
weakness,"  she  began  ;  but,  findino-  her  lips  quivering 
and  her  eyes  Ulling,  she  abruptly  withdrew  the  hand  he 
had  taken,  and  hurriedly  returned  to  her  room,  where 
he  heard  her  pacing  to  and  fro  with  restless,  disordered 
step.     He,  toOj  walked  the  room  with  perturbed  air. 

"  It  is  unaccountably  foolish  of  her,  so  sensible  as  she 
has  always  seemed,"  he  discontentedly  soliloquized,  "to 
distress  lierself  so*  sorely  from  such  a  cause.  I  can't 
help  pitying  her  for  all  that ;  I  had  youthful  illusions 
myself  once  on  a  day.  Oh,  me  I  what  long  years  have 
gone  by  since  then." 

At  tea-table  it  required  all  the  self-command  of  which 
Minnie  was  mistress  to  carry  out  the  customary  for  ins 
of  observance,  and  to  direct  the  flow  of  discourse  into  its 
ordinary  channels.  After  asking  a  second  time  for  a  cup 
of  tea,  Mr.  Brandon  received,  in  compliance  with  his  re- 
quest, the  sugar-bowl  and  a  spoon-holder,  an  oversight 
he  considerately  rectified  without  directing  her  attention 
to  the  same. 


CHAPTEK  YL 

DISENCHANTMENT. 

When  Minnie  took  the  evening  paper  to  read  aloud 
to  her  father,  as  was  her  wont,  he'frustrated  her  purpose 
by  remarking  decisively — 

"  "  The  reading  can  wait,  I  wish  to  talk  with  you  now. 
Mrs.  Thornton  I  found  settled  in  Lier  new  home  at  Bel- 


86  THE  nivAL  volunteers;  or, 

herbe,  a  quiet  little  snuggery  just  beyond  sound  of  city 
turmoil,  and  she  wished  me  to  say  to  you  that  she  was 
anxious  to  receive  a  call  as  soon  as  you  could  possibly 
make  it  convenient  to  come  her  way." 

"  I  will  certainly  call  on  her  the  first  time  I  go  in 
town." 

''  You  had  better  go  to-morrow  ;  I  make  it  a  special 
request  that  you  do  so.  There  is  no  use  in  striving  to 
buoy  yourself  up  with  false  hopes  ;  cast  aside  everything 
in  the  way  of  factitious  support,  and  face  the  facts  of  your 
actual  position  with  that  calm  self-reliance  which  you  are 
capable  of  summoning  to  your  aid  in  an  emergency  like 
the  present.  I  am  sure  no  daughter  of  mine  will  ever 
sacrifice  the  womanly  dignity  which  is  her  shield  and 
guard  by  complaining  of  any  man's  neglect,  or  by  pining 
for  the  regard  that  is  not  willingly  bestowed." 

Scalding  tears  were  in  Minnie's  eyes,  a  burning  glow 
on  her  cheek,  as,  with  unfaltering  accent,  she  replied, 
"  I  make  no  complaints,  and  intend  to  make  none.  You 
shall  see,  as  soon  as  the  first  shock  of  surprise  is  over, 
and  I  have  accustomed  myself  a  little  to  the  possibility 
of  all  my  air-castles  being  shattered,  that  you  have  not 
overrated  my  powers  of  endurance.  Give  me  time,  and 
you  shall  have  no  cause  to  reprove  me  a  second  time  for 
any  show  of  weakness." 

'^  Heaven  knows,  dear  child,  that  my  words  were  not 
spoken  in  censure  or  reproval." 

"  Lam  sure  of  it ;  you  are  too  kind  to  be  harsh  ;  but 
I  am  so  sore  at  heart  that  what  is  meant  as  balm  acts  as 
bane.  Have  patience  awhile,  and  I  will  bring  no  dis- 
credit on  your  name." 

"  It  is  not  of  my  own  name  or  my  own  credit  that  I 
am  thinking  ;  they  rest  on  too  firm  a  basis  to  need  props 
of  support ;  but  solely  of  what  is  for  your  best  interests. 
If  I  could  further  these  by  any  course  of  procedure  cal- 
culated to  place  the  relations  between  yourself  and  Mr. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME  RIFLES.  87 

Carutliers  on  a  happier  footing  tlian  the  existing  one, 
withon.  lowering  you  by  throwing  you  at  his  feet  as 
suppliant  for  compassion,  I  would  undertake  the  office 
at  a  minute's  warning ;  as  matters  stand,  I  cannot  see 
my  way  clear  to  the  accomplishment  of_  any  such  pur- 
pose.    Do  yon  agree  with  me  on  the  subject  ?" 

''  I  ou2:ht  to,  but  I  feel  as  well  as  reason.  I  have  not 
released  "Mr.  Carutliers  from  the  promise  binding  him 
to  me  ;  I  hope  it  may  not  come  to  that.  This  girl, 
Lucy  8'ears,  has  many  claims  on  his  kindness  and  atten- 
tion ;  an  orphan,  she  has  been  accustomed  to  look  to 
him  for  support,  as  her  mother  did  before  her.  She  is 
deeply  attached  to  him,  an  attachment  he  regrets  and 
humors  without  reciprocating." 

"  Why,  then,  is  he  so  much  with  her  ?" 

"  She  courts  his  society,  and  came  on  here  in  opposi- 
tion to  his  express  wishes." 

''  Who  told  you  this  ?" 

'•  Mr.  Caruthers  himself." 

"  Let  me  advise  you,  Minnie,  not  to  be  over  credulous 
regarding  any  man's  professions  ;  but  when  his  words 
and  deeds  do  not  tally,  sift  and  weigh  the  latter  much 
more  carefully  than  the  former.  It  is  cruel,  I  know,  to 
shake  thus  your  faith  in  human  goodness  ;  but  better  the 
bitter  rind  enfolding  the  kernel  of  truth,  than  the  false 
fruit,  fair  to  the  eye,  but  turning  to  ashes  in  the  mouth. 
I  repeat,  be  not  over  credulous." 

Kext  forenoon  found  Minnie  Brandon  in  the  plainly- 
furnished  sitting-room  of  the  doctor's  widow,  a  tall,  thin, 
dark-haired  woman,  whose  expression  of  quick  intelli- 
gence redeemed  her  face  from  the  charge  of  positive 
ugliness. 

''  Your  father  called  on  me  yesterday,"  said  Mrs. 
Thornton,  "  and  I  sent  for  you  to  come  to  me,  although 
I  should  not  have  done  so,  steeped  in  sorrow  and  unfit 
for  companionship  as  I  am,  if  i  had  not  had  something 
of  importance  to  communicate." 


88  THE  RiTAL  TOL^^*TEEEs ;  on, 

Minnie  Tvas  in  the  act  of  thanking  the  speaker  for  the 
kind  consideration  manifested  in  her  belialf,  when  she 
started  with  snrprise  at  siglit  of  a  miniature,  lying  on 
the  table  near,  a  seeming  counterpart  to  one  she  had 
often  slipped  inside  her  belt. 

"  Mr.  Oaruthers  is  a  relative  of  yours,  so  1  am  told, 
Mrs.  Thornton." 

*•  True  ;  but  that  miniature  does  not  belong  to  me." 

"  To  whom,  then  ?" 

"  To  a  young  lady  who  is  boarding  with  me  ;  her 
name  is  Sears." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  how  this  picture  came  in  her  pos- 
session V 

"  It  was  Mr.  Caruthers'  gift ;  she  has  others  of  far 
greater  value  bestowed  by  the  same  hand." 

"  Pray  tell  me  all  you  know  or  suspect  at  once.  This 
dealing  forth  your  information  by  driblets  only  keeps 
me  on  the  tenter-hooks  of  suspense.  Speak  straight 
out,  and  let  me  know  the  worst  I  have  to  dread." 

''  As  you  will.  In  all  human  probability  Lucy  Sears 
will  one  day  become  Mrs.  Caruthers  ;  and  I,  for  one, 
think  her  admirably  well  qualified  to  fill  such  position." 

The  speaker  was  shocked  at  tlie  effect  of  her  words. 
Minnie  turned  deadly  pale  and  clutched  at  the  table  for 
support.  Mrs.  Thornton  handed  her  a  bottle  of  salts, 
and  she  revived  from  the  momentary  attack  of  faintness 
that  had  nearly  overpowered  her. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mi-s.  Thornton ;  you  placed  the  fears 
I  had  scarcely  admitted,  even  to  myself,  so  suddenly  in 
tangible  form  before  me,  that  I  could  not  help  recoil  as 
sudden  ;  there  will  be  no  recurrence  of  a  similar  nature. 
You  know  the  relations,  subsisting  between  myself  and 
the  original  of  this  miniatui'e  f 

"  Yes  ;  and  knowing,  deeply  deplore  the  same." 

Minnie  looked  her  surprise  at  this  singular  admission, 
so  strikingly  at  variance  with  the  felicitations  she  had 
"^•p?)ii  wont  to  receive  on  her  approaching  bridal. 


THE   BLACE   PLUME   RIFLES.  89 

^'  Even  more  on  yoiir  own  account  than  on  his,"  pei> 
sisted  Mrs.  Thornton;  "I  regret  that  any  lasting  tie 
should  bind  jou  one  to  the  other.  You  make  friends 
and  companions  of  voiir  favorite  authors  ;  he  would  fall 
asleep  with  such  dull  companionship.  You  are  sensitive 
and  high- wrought ;  he  so  phlegmatic  that  he  would 
hardly  feel  a  blow  which  would  crush  you.  He 'would 
lacerate  your  feelings  in  a  thousand  ways  without  even 
being  avrare  that  he  had  hurt  you,  and  instead  of  resent- 
ment or  remonstrance,  yon  would  brood  over  his  unin- 
tentional slights,  magnifying  them  into  crnel  wrongs 
perhaps,  until  you  lost  the  gay  vivacity  that  was  your 
principal  charm  in  his  eyes,  losing  which,  your  last  hold 
on  his  affections  would  be  gone.  I  have  studied  him 
closely,  knoAving  that  you  were  engaged  to  him,  during 
the  evenings  he  has  spent  with  us,  and  it  is  my  firm 
conviction  that  yon  could  not  have  selected  a  more 
nnsuitable  partner  for  life." 

"  Then  he  spends  part  of  his  evenings  with  you  ?" 

"  jS"ot  particularly  with  me  ;  it  is  the  society  of  Miss 
Sears  that  he  seeks.  Every  spare  minute  he  can  snatch 
from  business  cares  is  devoted  to  her.  You  must  have 
suffered  severely  from  his  neglect ;  how  much  harder 
would  it  be  to  endure  if  you  were  his  wife,  and  he 
always  trying  to  escape  j)re5ence  irksome  to  him." 

Minnie  assumed  stately,  almost  resentful  air;  it  was 
bitter  enough  to  know  herself  neglected  for  another,  too 
galling  quite,  to  be  reminded  in  plain  words  of  fact  so 
unpalatable. 

There  was  a  soft  rustle  of  silk  on  the  stairs. 

"  She  is  coming  down,"  said  Mrs.  Thornton,  in  a  low 
tone  ;  "  now  you  will  have  an  opijortunity  of  seeing 
what  she  is  like." 

"  Do  not  introduce  me,"  Minnie  hastily  entreated. 

A  pretty,  fair-haired  blonde,  with '  well-cut  features 
and  a  delicately  tinted  complexion,  glided  gracefully 
into  the  room. 


90  THE   KIVAL   TOLUNTEEBS;    OE, 

"  I  bclievG  I  left  my  miniature  on  yonr  table,  Mrs. 
Tliornton  ;  ah,  here  it  is.  I  am  so  worn  out  with  bela- 
boring that  horrid  piano,  that  I  am  going  ont  to  refresh 
myself  with  an  ice.  Dear  me,  what  a  relief  it  would 
be  if  some  accomplishment  would  come  in  fashion  that 
would  not  require  such  a  tedious  amoimt  of  application 
as  practising.  If  Mr.  Caruthers  should  call  while  I  am 
out,  please  say  to  him  that  I  have  gone  to  the  confec- 
tioner's (he  knows  which  one),  and  that  I  have  earned 
my  ride  by  working  like  a  galley-slave  for  two  mortal 
hours  at  that  tiresome  instrument." 

"  Do  not  hurry  away.  Miss  Lucy,  but  sit  down  and 
help  entertain  my  young  friend,  Miss  Bur-r." 

"  Delighted  to  entertain  Miss — I  beg  pardon — did 
not  quite  catch  the  name.  Lovely  weather,  isn't  it  ? 
Did  you  see  the  parade  of  the  lancers  yesterday  ?" 

''  I  did  not  have  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  specta- 
cle," replied  Minnie,  watching  with  absorbing  interest 
every  change  in  the  dimpled  face,  every  turn  of  the 
symmetrical  figure  beside  her. 

'•  Then  you  missed  a  sight  well  worth  beholding.  I 
proved  my  patriotism  by  being  in  the  street  nearly  all 
day,  and  waving  my  handkerchief  in  answer  to  repeated 
huzzas  till  my  arm  fairly  ached  with  the  effort.  Such 
splendidly  burnished  spears — I  wonder  if  they  kill  folks 
with  them — with  the  sweetest  little  flags  floating  from 
their  shafts.  I  should  have  enjoyed  the  sight  amazingly, 
if  a  horse  hadn't  stepped  on  the  back  breadth  of  my  best 
Bilk ;  it  will  be  such  a  fearful  job  to  turn  it  upside 
down." 

"  You  must  feel  a  strong  interest  in  the  struggle  at 
present  convulsing  the  nation,"  suggested  Minnie,  re- 
garding her  companion  with  a  look  of  doubtful  inquiry. 

"  Oh,  intense,"  was  the  prompt  response.  "  I  went 
out  to  Camp  Bolivar,  the  other  day,  and  the  hideous 
cavalry  I  saw  there,  mounted  on  caissons  and  galloping 
round  the  field,  belching  forth  flame  and  smoke,  gavo 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  91 

me  sncli  a  turn,  I  hardly  got  over  it  all  night.  You 
should  have  seen  the  prancing  and  curvetting  of  the  offi- 
cers' chargers  ;  it  was  almost  equal  to  the  equestrian 
scene  in  the  Hippodrome,  where  somebody  or  other  I 
remember  to  have  seen  in  mythology,  drove  a  chariot 
with  four  horses  a-breast.  There  were  quantities  of 
infantry,  too,  drilling  in  squadrons  and  pontoons  all 
about  the  camp.  So  sad  to  think  of  their  being  sent  off 
to  be  shot  at.  I  do  wish  the  authorities  would  listen  to 
the  emancipation  plan,  and  make  people  stop  killing 
each  other." 

"  Then  you  are  in  favor  of  immediate  emancipation 
or  abolition,"  suggested  Minnie,  in  some  confusion  as 
regarded  the  speaker's  meaning. 

"  O  dear,  no.  I  think  the  abolitionists,  wdth  a  finger 
in  everybody's  pie,  are  worse  than  all  the  other  parties 
put  together.  But  we  are  really  drifting  into  politics, 
and  as  we  don't  have  to  vote,  and  as  nobody  cares  a  fip 
what  we  think  about  national  affairs,  where  is  the  use 
of  our  muddling  our  heads  over  what. doesn't  concern 
us  ?  What  do  you  think  of  my  new  hat,  Mrs.  Thorn- 
ton ?" 

"  I  liked  the  one  with  the  blue  feathers." 

''  That  does  very  well  as  a  plain,  serviceable  article, 
but  this  is  perfectly  captivating ;  I  positively  went  into 
raptures  at  the  first  glance  of  it  through  the  shop- 
window  in  which  it  hung.  Look  at  this  gorgeous  plume, 
three  shades  of  purple  tipped  with  Solferino,  and  this 
purple  velvet  j^uffing  banded  with  gold  and  fastened. 

with  a  clasp  of  amethysts.     Excuse  me.  Miss ,  for 

not  wishing  to  discuss  politics  with  you  ;  but  to  tell  the 
plain  truth,  I  get  as  puzzled  trying  to  understand  what 
all  the  fighting  is  about,  as  I  sometimes  do  over  a  piece 
of  music  in  six  flats,  where  the  naturals  and  accidentals 
are  enough  to  drive  one  to  distraction." 

Minnie  rested  her  face  on  her  hand  with  a  weary  air, 
making  no  attempt  to  resume  the  conversation. 


»2  TEE    RIVAL   TOLUXTEEKS  ;    OR, 

Tlie  wearer  of  tlie  gorgeous  hat  rose  to  depart. 

"  If  Mr.  Caruthers  should  come,  Mrs.  Tliornton,  obh'ge 
me  by  telling  him  that  three  garnets  arc  gone  from  my 
buchle,  and  he  must  have  tliem  replaced,  as  I  can't  live 
without  it,  for  it  fits  all  my  belts,  and  I  can't  wear  his 
miniature  without  a  belt ;  don't  forget  that  part  of  the 
message,  as  all  the  rest  hangs  by  that.  I  left  the  buckle 
on  my  bureau  after  all — I  must  run  up  for  it." 

A  bitter  smile  curled  Minnie's  lip  as  slie  watched  the 
bland  and  smiling  speaker  as  she  tripped  lightly  up  the 
staircase. 

''  And  that  is  the  woman  who  has  robbed  me  of  my 
rest,  and  stolen  away  my  peace.  A  rare  bit  of  art,  that 
reference  to  his  miniature." 

There  was  a  ring  at  the  bell,  the  door  opened,  and  a 
man's  step  sounded  through  the  liall — a  step  tliat  set 
Minnie's  cheeks  aglow  and  her  heart  tumultuously 
astir.  Mrs.  Thornton  hurried  out  to  receive  her  land- 
lord. 

''  Come  in,  Mr.  Caruthers." 

"  Xo,  I'm  obliged  to  you  ;  I  cannot  leave  my  horses. 
Is  Miss  Sears  ready  to  go  to  a  military  review  with 
me  ?" 

"  She  was  about  starting  for  a  walk,  and  has  run  up 
stairs  ;  she  will  be  down  in  an  instant." 

"  Yery  well ;  I  hope  you  are  thoroughly  comfortable 
in  your  new  domicile.  Report  to  me  any  needed 
alterations  or  repairs,  and  they  shall  be  promptly 
.attended  to." 

How  those  hearty,  cordial  tones  called  forth  echoes 
from  the  past  which  still  in  Minnie's  faithful  memory 
fondly  lingered.  His  next  words  struck  cold  and  chill 
on  her  ear,  and  the  sweet  echoes  of  lang-syne  died  away 
in  plaint  of  ineffable  sadness. 

'*  Here  comes  our  queen  of  violets,  all  purple  and 
gold.  A\^ho  could  resist  such  a  pov/erful  battery  of 
charms  ?" 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  93 

Minnie  strnggled  for  breatli  as  though  she  had  been 
undergoing  the  tortures  of  siiifoeation,  pressing  her  hand 
over  her  mouth  to  repress  the  sobs  that  ahnost  forced 
themselves  from  lier  lips.  A  short  allegory  she  had 
read  when  a  child,  came  unbidden  to  her  jho-ugh^:^. 
Thus  it  ran  :  A  party  of  pilgrims  set  forth  from  a  bleak 
and  sterile  plain  for  a  fair  and  fertile  land,  rich  in 
abundance  of  all  things  good  for  man.  A  chart  was 
their  only  guide.  Their  way  was  rugged,  painful  oft, 
sometimes  shut  in  by  flinty  rocks,  sorely  wounding  their 
tender  feet,  and  at  others  rendered  nearly  impassable 
by  thickets  of  bramble  and  briar  that  cruelly  lacerated 
the  hands  raised  to  put  them  aside. 

All  the  while  that  these  pilgrims,  footsore  and  weary 
with  plodding  onward  in  their  toilsome  way,  forced 
thus  tlieir  painful  march  along,  they  could  clearly  dis- 
cern the  sights,  detect  the  sounds  of  the  tempting  Vales 
of  Pleasaunce  to  which  the  mountain  slopes  bordering 
their  rugged  path  descended  on  either  side.  There,  in 
spicy  groves,  the  false  and  fickle  sirens  sang  in  tones  of 
entrancement  so  delicious,  that  the  unwary  ear,  athirst 
for  the  unheard  harmonies -audible  only  to  those  loosed 
from  fleshly  bonds,  turns  eagerly  to  quench  its  thirst 
from  the  sparkling  cup  whose  dregs  are  death.  There, 
too,  in  course  nearly  parallel  to  the  rough,  mountainous 
pass  they  trode,  ran  delightfully  sheltered  avenues, 
bordered  by  clustering  shades,  where  birds  of  golden 
plumage  toyed  and  lingered — bordered  by  marble 
grottoes,  where  bloomed  floral  gems  of  subtlest  potency, 
and  where  Bacchante  proftered  cup  of  circean  spell. 
And  it  came  to  pass  that  many  of  the  pilgrims,  faint 
with  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  turned  with  longing 
eyes  toward  the  bowers  of  ease  and  indulgence,  whose 
varied  allurements  placed  in  marked  contrast  the  bar- 
ren waste  in  which  their  rugged  pathway  seemed  inter- 
minably to  lose  itself,  saying  to  themselves,  we  will  but 
Btep  aside  for  a  moment  to  screen  ourselves  from  the 


94  THE   EIYAL   VOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

noontide  sun,  and  to  slake  our  thirst  at  these  sparklirig 
cisterns,  which  our  chart  sajs  are  broken  and  hold  no 
water,  but  whose  contents  we  will  test  for  ourselves. 
So  the  worldy-wise  speakers  turned  aside,  with  purpose 
of  speedy  return  ;  but  it  was  not  until  sated  with  revelry, 
cloyed  with  sybaritic  luxury,  that  they  bethought  them 
of  retracing  their  steps;  but  trusting  to  treacherous 
guides,  they  failed  in  their  attempt,  never  rejoining  the 
Ikithfnl  few  who  struggled  on  through  all  opposing 
obstacles,  reaching,  with  the  scar  of  many  a  conflict  in 
proof  of  their  unblenching  valor,  that  fair  land  where 
those  that  monrn  shall  rejoice,  and  they  that  weep  shall 
be  comforted. 

Not  much  of  an  allegory  this ;  but  coming  to  Minnie's 
remembrance  as  it  did  at  a  moment  of  sore  trial,  it 
soothed  and  strengthened  her. 

"  I  have  still  an  object,  one  as  high  and  holy  as  any 
to  which  mortal  can  aspire,  to  live  for,"  she  said  to  her- 
self. '•  If  my  steps  have  been  uncertain  and  blunder- 
ing, no  irretrievably  false  one  have  I  yet  taken,  and 
henceforth  I  must  be  doubly  on  my  guard  against  such. 
If  Mr.  Caruthers  wrongs  me;  I  am  not  to  let  such  wrong 
eat   out   from  my  better   nature  all   those   sweet  ana 

fentle  charities,  without  which  woman  is  a  monster. 
Teither  am  I  to  hate  the  rival,  who  has  never  intention- 
ally done  me  a  harm,  and  never  consciously  looked  on 
my  face." 

"  How  do  you  like  the  young  lady's  appearance,  now 
that  you  have  seen  her,  Minnie  ?" 

"  Have  they  gone,  Mrs.  Thornton  ?" 

^'  Yes  ;  Ave  minutes  since,  and  I  have  spoken  to  you 
twice  without  receiving  any  answer." 

"  Pardon  my  inattention.  I  do  not  think  Miss  Sears 
is  a  person  I  should  select  as  a  friend,"  replied  Minnie, 
striving  to  express  her  real  opinion  freed  from  all  tinge 
of  bitterness. 

"  Do  not  let  prejudice  blind  you  to  facts.     So  far  as  I 


TH2    BLACK    FLUME    RIFLES.  95 

can  see,  slie  is  singularlj  good-humored  and  warm- 
hearted, with  amiable  and  engaging  manners.  I  know 
your  characters  are  wholly  dissimilar ;  but  if  she  drinks 
less  deeply  than  you  of  life's  draught,  she  thereby 
escapes  the  lees  you  are  sure  to  quaff." 

''  It  was  not  o't*  her  depth  or  shallowness  I  was  think- 
ing. One  values  a  friend  for  goodness  and  worth,  aside 
from  all  considerations  of  intellectual  excellence,  and  it 
is  in  respect  to  the  former  that  I  think  Miss  Sears  lack- 
ing. Why  does  she  put  on  those  pretty  little  affected 
ways,  if  it  be  not  to  hide  what  she  really^  is  ?" 

'■^  Those  airy,  sprightly  graces  are  just  what  Mr. 
Caruthers  finds  irresistibly  attractive." 

A  slight  contraction  showed  for  an  instant  on  Minnie's 
brow,  but  she  rejoined  quietly,  "  Xo  manner  conveying 
the  impression  of  hollow  insincerity  can  ever  be  attrac- 
tive to  me." 

"  I  fear  you  are  still  cherishing  a  feeling  of  resentful 
dislike  toward  one  who  does  not  deserve  it.  Lucy  Sears 
saw  and  loved  Mr.  Caruthers  years  before  he  ever  made 
your  acquaintance,  bestowing  on  him  a  regard  as  great 
as  he  was  capable  of  returning.  It  was  you,  not  she, 
who  made  the  fatal  mistake  of  over-estimating  his 
real  character,  of  exalting  him  into  a  peerless  ideal ; 
and  I,  who  look  through  the  calm  eyes  of  a  disinterested 
spectator,  do  earnestly  assure  you  that  Miss  Lucy's 
intervention  is  a  blessing  to  be  grateful  for,  rather  than 
an  evil  to  deplore,  as  it  saves  you  the  slow  misery  of 
seeing  charm  by  charm  unwind  from  an  illusion  dearly 
cherished,  but  an  illusion  still." 

Minnie  drew  a  long  breath,  while  a  look  of  deep  dis- 
quiet rested  on  her  saddened  face. 

"  I  almost  lose  the  sense  of  my  own  identity  at  times, 
Mrs.  Thornton  ;  so  secure  as  seemed  my  future,  but 
brief  space  ago,  and  now  I'm  all  afloat  on  a  chopping  sea, 
with  neither  rudder  nor  compass  as  guide.     Tell  me,  is 


%  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

nothing  true  under  the  sun  ?  Did  charm  by  charm 
unwind  that  robed  your  idol  ?" 

Low  and  trcnnilous  th^  faltering  response  : 

"I  made  no  mistake  in  my  estimate  of  the  sainted 
dead,  whose  departure  has  to  me  brought  Heaven 
nearer.'' 

"  Pardon  my  thoughtlessness,"  entreated  the  contrite 
Minnie  ;  ''  in  the  sellishness  of  my  own  sorrow,  I  forgot 
that  you  liad  a  far  greater  to  bear." 

"  Let  us  not  talk  of  that,  or  I  shall  be  unnerved  quite. 
We  will  speak  instead  of  what  it  nearly  Concerns  you 
to  know.  A  confidential  clerk,  a  relative  of  Mr.  Caru- 
thers,  was  accidentally  killed  in  a  branch  liouse  con- 
nected with  the  firm  in  this  city,  and  he  supported  the 
widow  and  orplian  until  the  death  of  the  former.  Then 
a  brother  of  Mrs.  Sears,  a  graceless  knave,  I  have  been 
told,  wdio  keeps  a  billiard  saloon  and  bowling-alley  in 
one  of  our  southern  cities,  thought  he  could  turn  his 
niece's  beauty  and  vivacity  to  good  account  in  his  own 
interests,  and  did  his  best  to  ingratiate  himself  with  her 
and  induce  her  to  accompany  him  to  his  southern  home. 
Li  this  design  he  would  probably  have  succeeded,  if 
Mr.  Caruthers,  knowing  him  to  be  wholly  nnfit  for  the 
trust  he  sought  to  assume,  had  not  foiled  his  plan  by 
carrying  Lucy  to  live  with  his  mother  and  sisters.  Such 
a  tura^.oil  as  this  step  created !  The  Misses  Caruthers 
were  models  of  elegant  and  fastidious  propriety,  and 
Lucy,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  was  something  of  a 
hoyden,  and  by  no  means  inclined  to  submit  with  do- 
cility to  the  restrictions  of  a  rigid  code  of  manners.  She 
w^as  pronounced  coarse,  illiterate,  underbred  ;  and  there 
was  no  end  to  the  slights  and  annoyances  she  was  forced 
to  undergo. 

"A  girl  of  your  acnte  perceptions  and  high  spirit 
would  never  have  remained,  no  matter  what  the  penalty 
of  escape,  where  such  stinging  aflfronts  were  of  daily  re- 


THE    BLACK   PLUME    RIFLES.  97 

cnrrence ;  but  Miss  Lucy  is  sensitive  onlv  to  actual  per- 
sonal discomforts,  and  never  frets  over  ills  that,  to  a 
mind  of  liner  mould,  would  be  almost  unbearable.  In- 
deed, she  is  extremelv  even-tempered,  and  I  never  heard 
lier  make  use  of  a  liarsh  or  angry  expression  to,  or  of, 
any  one.  Wlien  Mr.  Caruthers  discovered  that  there  vfas 
to  be  a  never-ending  succession  of  petty  persecutions  for 
the  poor  girl  as  long  as  she  remained  Avith  his  family,  he 
sent  her  to  the  Female  Seminary  at  Troy — an  obligation 
she  would  not  so  readily  have  accepted  had  it  not  been 
understood  between  them  that  her  education  was  to  fit 
her  for  the  position  she  would  one  day  occupy  as  ^his 
wife.  That  such  understanding  mutually  existed  I  have 
positive  proof.*' 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  tell  me  that  such  understand- 
ing has  existed  from  that  time  until  the  present  ?" 

"  I  could  not  satisfy  you  in  regard  to  that  point ;  but 
I  can  tell  jou.  wliat  it  is  much  more  essential  for  you  to 
know,  that  it  would  hav^e  been  better  for  all  parties  if 
such  understanding  had  continued  to  exist.  As  I  have 
intimated  before,  she  v,-ill  make  him  a  much  more  suit- 
able partner  for  life  than  you,  with  your  best  endeavors, 
ever  can.  She  looks  up  to  him  as  a  woman  should  to 
the  man  she  marries ;  chronicles  his  every  serious  remark 
as  though  it  were  the  utterance  of  an  oracle,  to  be  reli- 
giously preserved,  and  finds  food  for  mirth  in  Avhat  seems 
to  me  the  perfection  of  dullness.  Excuse  me  for  remind- 
ing you  that  my  work  in  the  kitchen  remains  at  a  stand- 
still while  I  am  up-stairs,  and  that  although  I  would 
gladly  urge  you  to  prolong  your  stay,  pressing  duties 
forbid  me  the  pleasure.  Let  me  advise  you  to  write  at 
once  to  Mr.  Caruthers,  not  with  reproaches  or  upbraid- 
ing, but  in  the  mild  terms  your  own  sense  of  discretion 
would  naturally  incline  you  to  adopt,  and  release  hi  n 
from  the  engagement  still  binding  him  to  you.  This, 
under  the  circumstances,  is  much  the  most   dignifi.e-i 

5 


98  THE    PvIVAl,    TOLUNTEEES;    OR, 

course  for  you  to  pursue,  as  it  will  spare  you  the  morti- 
fication of  being  actually  deserted,  thus  depriving  gossip 
of  its  sharpest  sting  in  the  shape  of  hypocritical  condo- 
lances  and  simulated  pity,  which  you  might  otherwise 
find  very  galling  to  endure." 

As  Minnie  raised  her  parasol,  on  reaching  the  side- 
walk, a  scrap  of  paper  loosened  itself  from  the  fringe  and 
•fluttered  to  her  feet.  Picking  it  up,  and  bestowing  on 
it  a  hasty  glance,  she  placed  it  in  her  card-case. 

On  reaching  homo,  she  proceeded  to  put  Mrs.  Thorn- 
ton's advice  in  practice,  by  writing  Mr.  Caruthers  a  note 
releasing  him  from  all  ties  binding  him  to  herself. 

The  scrap  of  writing  she  had  picked  up  from  the  side- 
walk recurred  to  memory,  and  she  hastened  to  examine 
it — nothing  of  special  interest,  one  would  say,  only  a 
list  of  feminine  purchases — laces,  gloves,  pinking,  per- 
fumery. AYord  by  word,  letter  by  letter,  did  Minnie 
compare  the  list  with  the  anonymous  communication 
previously  described — the  hand-writing- in  both  was  the 
same. 

"  If  I  had  any  doubts  before,"  she  said  to  herself, ''  this 
sets  them  all  at  rest.  Lucy  Sears  wrote  me  that  letter, 
and  certainly  her  epistolary  and  conversational  style  are 
widely  at  variance.  How  prettily  she  mouths  her  words 
in  speaking  I  as  one  who  could  manage  to  perfection 
the  Dorrit-governess  mode  of  prune-and-prism  surface 
address  ;  but  in  writing,  where  she  has  nothing  to  gain 
by  the  assumption  of  winning  gentleness,  she  can  threaten 
with  the  sharpest,  and  put  forward  her  claims  without 
mincing  matters  in  the  least.  Not  one  particle  of  faith 
have  I  in  her  artlessness,  which  is  a  mere  blind  to  screen 
her  plotting  and  scheming.  She  boldly  accuses  me  of 
practising  wiles  to  keep  Mr.  Caruthers  in  my  toils,  and 
it  is  generally  your  over-suspicious  person  who  best  de- 
serves to  be  suspected. 

''  I  have  written  Mr.  Caruthers  that  I  give  him  up  of 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    RIFLES.  .  99 

my  own  free  will ;  I  do  not  give  him  np  of  my  own  free 
will,  and  I  will  never  tell  liim  that  I  do.  He  may  be 
false  to  me,  but  I  will  never  be  false  to — myself.  It  may, 
as  Mrs.  Thornton  says,  be  the  most  dignitied  course  for 
me  to  dismiss  him ;  but  am  I  to  sacritice  truth  for  the 
preservation  of  my  dignity?  Heaven  forfend!  Shall 
mine  be  the  hand  to  place  any  obstacle  opposing  his 
return  in  the  w^ay  of  the  frank,  free-hearted  gentleman, 
who  is  S3  interwoven  with  all  my  p)lans  for  the  future 
that  it  seems  one  long  stretch  of  blank  desolation  with- 
out him  ?  I  will  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  I  could  find  it 
in  my  heart,  even  now,  if  he  would  but  throw  off  the 
hallucination  that  enthralls  him,  and  come  to  me  with 
perfect  candor  of  confession  and  acknowledgment,  to 
overlook  the  past ;  to  trust  and  believe  in  him,  as  I  was 
once  so  happy  in  trusting  and  believing." 

Long  she  sat  in  saddest  musing,  then  tore  the  note  she 
had  been  writing  into  tiny  bits,  saying  to  herself,  as  she 
scattered  them  from  the  open  window,  '*  Thus  pass  away 
my  shattered  hopes  unless  ]iis  hand  bind  them  together 
once  more."  Gathering  up  the  half  finished  bridal  robe, 
w^itli  its  costly  laces  and  delicate  needlework,  she  care- 
fully laid  it  away  in  an  unused  drawer  with  the  apos- 
trophe, ''  There  rest  thee  ever,  unless  thou  canst  become 
joyous  instead  of  grievous  reminder." 

bay  after  day  dragged  by  with  such  a  wearisome 
sameness  that  she  was  strongly  disposed  to  believe  that 
any  sort  of  certainty  would  be  a  relief  in  comparison 
with  this  lingering  torture  of  prolonged  suspense  ;  these 
ever  recurring  doubts  and  lears  ;  the  sudden  gleams  of 
hope  quenched  as  suddenly  in  moods  of  despondent 
gloom,  which,  at  times,  made  life  seem  a  burden  to  be 
patiently  endured,  rather  than  the  most  glorious  boon 
ever  bestowed  on  creature  by  creator  divine. 

She  was  walking  on  the  broad  veranda,  several  days 
later  in  the  week,  watching  the  rosy,  purpling  twilight 


100  THE    RIVAL   volunteers;    OR, 

shades  curtaining  the  west,  wlien  a  gentleman  she  at 
once  recognized  as  Mr.  Carnthers'  legal  adviser  rode 
slowly  np  the  avenue  liedgcd  in  by  Osage  orange,  and 
throwing  the  reins  on  his  horse's  neck,  approached  her 
with  courteous  greeting. 

"  You  will  come  in  and  see  my  father,  Mr.  Anverne  ?" 

"  isot  unless  you  fear  taking  cold  out  here.  I  have 
but  few  Avords  to  say,  and  will  not  detain  you  long.  I 
am  not  used  to  wasting  time  in  beating  about  the  bush, 
but  wlien  I  have  a  thing  to  say,  put  it  in  as  plain  words 
as  I  can  find  to  serve  my  purpose.  A  certain  client  of 
mine,  you  will  readily  surmise  who,  is  placed,  by  an  odd 
complication  of  circumstances,  in  a  most  trying  position, 
from  which  you  alone  can  extricate  him." 

He  paused,  looking  his  listener  full  in  the  face,  as  if 
to  discover  the  impression  his  first  words  had  produced. 

Her  heart  beat  high  and  her  color  rose  as  she  firmly 
rejoined,  ''  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  anything  in  my  power 
toward  relieving  your  client  from  any  embarrassment 
he  may  be  enduring  on  my  account.  Have  the  good- 
ness to  explain,  at  once,  what  it  is  I  am  required  to  do." 

^•I  will  come  directly  to  the  point  at  issue,  as  you  re- 
quest. When  Mr.  Caruthers  made  you  proposals  of 
marriage,  he  never  contemplated  the  possibility  of  any 
occasion  arising  that  might  render  such  proposal  im- 
practicable of  realization.  Such  occasion  has  arisen  in 
the  shape  of  an  entangling  correspondence,  carried  on 
years  ago  and  almost  forgotten,  with  one  Miss  Lucy 
Sears.  Most  unfortunately  for  in.y  client,  these  letters 
distinctly  admit  the  fact  of  his  engagement  to  their  re- 
cipient, which  gives  her  counsellor  the  whip-hand  over 
us.  In  spite  of  this  dravrback,  I  think  we  might  even- 
tuall}'  have  brought  the  young  woman  to  some  reason- 
able species  of  compromise  by  settling  her  at  a  fashion- 
able watering-place  on  a  fair  retiring  pension ;  but,  as 
ill-luck  would  have  it,  her  uncle,  keen  as  a  brier  and  as 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  101 

unscrupiilons  a  knave  as  ever  breathed,  must  turn  up 
just  in  time  to  frustrate  our  weU-concerted  plans." 

''Then  Mr.  Caruthers  really  desires  to  break  the  ties 
binding  him  to  the  voung  lady  you  speak  of." 

"Desires  nothing^nore  earnestly,  I  do  assure  you." 

"  And  I  must  confess  that  I  can  see  no  way  in  which 
any  elibrt  of  mine  can  absolve  him  from  redeeming  his 
pledged  word  to  another  w'oman." 

This  remark,  proving  to  the  wary  advocate  that 
he  had  thus  far  rather  damaged  than  advanced  his 
client's  cause,  drove  him  at  once  to  the  adoption  of  a 
new  course  of  tactics. 

"Suspend  judgment,  if  you  please,  nntil  you  have 
heard  me  through,  when  you  will  be  better  able  to  form 
a  correct  estimate  of  the  side  issues  involved  in  this 
case.  This  Yanwaring,  uncle  of  contestant,  carried  on 
a  lucrative  business  iu  the  billiard  and  ten-pin  line  at 
Mobile;  but,  in  an  evil  hour,  he  had  the  ill-breeding  and 
execrable  taste,  and  be  hanged  to  him,  to  utter  sarcastic 
and  oliensive  remarks  regarding  the  Southern  Confede- 
racy when  there  were  none  but  Confederates  near  to 
listen — addlehead,  to  quarrel  with  his  own  bread  and 
butter  ! — and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  after  receiving 
pointed  allusions  to  a  coat  of  down  maintaining^  its  con- 
sistence through  adhesion  to  viscid  woof  of  pitch-pine 
extraction,  is  drummed  out  of  town,  and,  of  all  places 
in  the  world,  turns  up  here,  where  his  absence  is  a  de- 
sideratum most  devoutly  to  be  prayed  for.  Breach  of 
promise  suit — ten  thousand  dollars  damages — is  what 
the  fellow  threatens;  and,  more's  the  pity,  he  has  the 
means  at  disposal  for  putting  his  threat  in  practice. 
This  amount,  large  as  it  is,  Mr.  Caruthers  could  easily 
have  raised,  and  treble  the  sum,  in  ordinary  times  ;  but 
he  has  met  vrith  heavy  losses,  in  ways  I  need  not  stop 
to  specify,  of  late  ;  and  in  the  severe  financial  crisis  at 
present  paralyzing  merca,ntile  enterprise,  it  would  bo 


102  THE    r.IYAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

far  from  convenient  for  him  to  nndertake  the  prosecu- 
tion of  an  expensive  law-suit." 

A  look  of  Avounded  pride,  of  affection  scorned,  turn- 
ing to  gall  and  bitterness  the  love  turned  baek  to  prey 
upon  itself,  stamped  itself  on  her  white  and  rigid  face. 
"His  mere  convenience,''  thought  she,  ''outweighs 
anv  considerations  for  my  happiness.  It  was  in  his  own 
well-being  that  all  his  purposes  centred ;  mine  centred 
there  too;  this  was  no  exchange,  it  was  a  robbery;  he 
took  the  cream  of  my  life  and  made  me  no  return.  This 
is  a  wrong  for  which  there  is  no  redress,  whose  betrayal, 
even,  is  a  burning  sho.me  to  woman.  I  must  bear  it  with- 
out resentment  or  demur ;  it  cannot  last  forever." 

"You  are  not  attending.  Miss  Brandon,  to  what  I 
■wish  to  ask  for  my  own  satisfaction,  from  no  other  mo- 
tive. I  desire  distinctly  to  state  a  very  simple  cpiestion. 
If  Mr.  Caruthers  should  think  best  to  recognize  and 
carry  to  its  usual  ultimatum  his  engagements  with  the 
woman  who  holds  him  in  her  power,  would  you  resort 
to  effectual  method  of  interference  with  such  proce- 
dure?" 

"  The  woman  who  holds  him  in  her  power  !"  repeated 
Minnie,  vrith  painfully  bewildered  air. 

"Pardons,  a  thousand,  Miss  Brandon;  my  words 
were  not  intended  to  convey  the  impression  that  you  do 
not  equally  hold  him  in  your  power  ;  what  I  am  anxious 
to  ascertain  is^  if  you  have  any  intention  of  exerting 
such  power  in  a  manner  detrimental  to  my  client's  in- 
terests, h'  any  advance  step  of  his  in  an  opposing  direc- 
tion sliould  place  him  at  the  mercy  of  such  mischance." 
"  Wljy  should  you  make  suggestions  to  me  in  that 
blind  way,  Mr.  Auverne  ?  It  is  for  suspected  criminals 
such  wary  cross-questionings  are  usually  reserved.  I 
treat  you  with  the  frankness  due  a  friend;  and  you 
return  the  same  with  the  cautious  diplomacy  one  uses 
to  keep  an  enemy  at  a  safe  distance.     If  you  will  speak 


THE    BLACK    PLU2>IE    EIFLES.  103 

to  me  in  the  plain  terms  for  wliicli  you  recently  nvowed 
a  preference,  yon  shall  have  reply  as  plain," 

'^  Be  it  so.  If  Mr.  Caruthers  should  conclude  to 
make  Lucy  Sears  his  wife,  should  yon  indict  him  for 
breaoli  of  promise  in  a  count  of  your  own  ?" 

Minnie's  pale  cheek  flushed  crimson. 

'^  I  understand  your  meaning  now,  thoroughly,  Mr. 
Auverne,  and  you  shall  have  a  straightforward  answer 
according  to  promise  ;  but  first  I  beg  that  yon  will  deal 
as  openly  with  me  when  I  ask  if  Mr.  Caruthers  origi- 
nated the  inquiry  you  just  now  made.  Does  he  wish  to 
know  if  he  can  be  on  with  the  old  lovo  without  fear  of 
trouble  from  the  new  ?" 

''  Your  question  is  wholly  irrelevant,  I  do  assure  you, 
wholly  irrelcTant." 

''  Is  it  a  fair  rule  that  demands  free  reply  to  your 
questions,  Vv^hile  mine  are  answered  or  put  aside  at  your 
option  ?" 

'•  But  it  imports  you  nothing  to  know  whether  I 
pursue  these  inquiries  solely  to  gratify  my  own  curi- 
osity, or  to  satisfy  " 

Pie  paused,  at  a  loss  for  fitting  terms  in  which  to  con- 
clude his  assertion. 

With  a  bitter  smile  curling  her  lip,  she  completed 
the  sentence  for  him. 

"  Or  to  satisfy  my  client  as  to  the  probability  of  your 
attempting  to  wring  from  him  some  portion  of  his  for- 
tune in  case  of  certain  contingency.  You  view  this 
case,  Mr.  Auverne,  exclusively  in  its  professional  aspect, 
while  1  see  it  through  the  refracting  medium  of  my  own 
feelings.  It  imports  me  much  to  know  whether  you  are 
interrogating  me  in  accordance  with  his  instructions,  or 
simply  from  motives  of  your  own." 

"I  have  no  personal  motives  whatever  influencing 
my  present  course,  my  conduct  being  wholly  controlled 
by  a  reference  to  the  advancement  of  my  client's  in- 
terests;  I  do  not  see  how  these  can  be  prejudiced  by 


104  THE   EIVAL   YOLITNTEERS;    OR, 

imparting  the  information  jou  are  desirous  of  obtaining. 
It  is  Mr.  Carutliers  who  wishes  to  know  whether,  if  the 
contingency  to  which  you  but  now  alluded  should 
0CCU1-,  you  would  institute  legal  procedure  against 
him  in  your  own  behalf." 

The  color  slowly  faded  from  Minnie's  face,  and  her 
firm,  upright  attitude  gaye  place  to  one  of  dejected 
languor. 

"  It  is  too  true,"  she  sadly  admitted  to  herself,  scarce 
heeding  her  companion's  presence,  "  that  I  haye  been 
tormenting  inyself  all  this  time  oyer  an  illusory  creation 
of  my  own  fancy  ;  and  I  am  too  thankful,  at  last,  to  be 
thoroughly  disenchanted.  Mr.  Caruthers  accused  me, 
not  long  ago,  of  oyerstepping  the  bounds  of  strict  femi- 
nine decorum,  in  addressing  a  remark  or  an  inquiry 
to  a  stranger  ;  but  I  will  never  be  guilty  of  pursuing  a 
course  that  would  Gubject  me  to  the  notoriety  I  would 
as  soon  die  as  brave.  What!  I  to  provoke  critical  com- 
ment from  crowded  court-room  wliile  seeking  golden 
balm  for  a  wounded  heart !  /  parade  my  wrons^s  and 
be  laughed  at  as  lovelorn  damsel  wearing  the  willow  for 
truant  swain  !  /  make  myself  a  study  for  eyes  as  coldly 
curious  as  those  of  the  naturalist  welcoming  fresh  speci- 
mens of  ichthyosaurus  to  his  fossiliferous  treasures ! 
ISTo ;  I  have  neither  reparation  to  seek,  nor  injuries 
requiring  redress.  I  have  been  the  victim  of  my  own 
amazing  stupidity,  for  which  I  alone  am  to  blame.  I 
need  the  pity  of  no  living  being  ;  and  I  would  resent 
nothing  more  deeply  tlian  any  display  of  a  compassion 
which,  in  my  case,  Avould  be  an  unequivocal  indignity. 
Come  into  tlie  cottage  a  moment;  I  wish  to  write  a 
brief  note  which  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  convey  to 
Mr.  Caruthers." 

Bowing  assent,  Mr.  Auverne  followed  her  into  the 
house.  She  wrote  a  few  hastily -penned  lines,  j^i'^sent- 
ing  the  same  for  the  lawyer's  perusal. 

"  There's  the  answer  I  promised  you,  sir.     I  am  rea^^ 


The  black  pluisis  eifles.  105 

to  seal  and  direct  as  soon  as  you  have  given  it  the  sanc- 
tion of  your  approval." 
He  read  as  folio wb  : 

"  Mr.  Caetjthers  : 

"  Dear  Sir — I  do  voluntarily,  of  my  own  fullest  and 
freest  accord,  release  you  from  all  ties  hitherto  existing 
between  us.  Permit  me  to  offer  my  most  sincere  felici- 
tations on  your  prospective  union  with  one  whose  win- 
ning attractiveness  will,  I  trust,  efface  any  unpleasant 
reminiscences  that  might  otherwise  associate  themselves 
with  your  memories  of  the  past. 

"  Believe  me,  when  I  tell  you  that  I  now  see  what  I 
might  sooner  have  discerned,  if  I  had  not  hardened 
myself  against  conviction,  that  I  should  have  made  you 
a  uiost  unsuitable  partner  for  life  ;  and  I  rejoice  at  the 
accident,  if  there  be  such  a  thing,  that  has  severed  the 
relations  between  us.  I  make  this  admission  in  no 
spirit  of  bitterness  or  upbraiding;  acknowledging,  with 
deepest  contrition  and  humility,  the  false  impressions 
by  which  my  conduct  has  been  swayed.  I  have  acted 
on  erroneous  data,  having  formed  incorrect  estimate  of 
your  true  character;  and  I  hasten  to  make  the  only 
reparation  in  my  power,  that  of  confessing  my  mistake 
and  releasing  you  from  the  obligations  which  have  be- 
come burdensome  to  both. 

"  If  a  sadder,  I  trust  I  am  a  wiser  woman,  and  remain 
as  ever  "  Your  kindly  well-wisher, 

"  Minnie  Beaxdon." 

Mr.  Auverne  rose  with  an  air  of  the  utmost  com- 
plaisance, briskly  pi-eparing  to  take  leave. 

"  Eeally,  Miss  Brandon,  you  have  done  this  very 
handsomely;  not  sacrificing  your  own  dignity,  and 
sparing  us  all  cost  and  trouble.  I  thank  you  in  my 
client's  behalf." 

5* 


106  THE   KITAL    VOLU>'TEEnS  ;    OE, 

^'I  have  no  claims  on  vonr  gratitude,"  she  rejoined, 
with  proud  liumility.  ''It  was  not  to  spare  my  own 
dignity  or  Mr.  Caruthers'  convenience  that  I  wrote; 
but  to  speak  the  trut]\  or  what  seemed  such  to  me ;  and 
to  atone,  so  far  as  might  be,  for  my  own  blunders  in 
this  miserable  aft'air." 

The  lawyer  smiled  blandly,  as  he  drew  on  his  lavender 
gauntlets. 

"  A  little  quixotic  in  your  notions  of  justice  and  self- 
abnegation  yet,  I  see.  Well,  for  a  young  person,  that 
is  better  than  to  err  in  the  opposite  extreme  ;  for  it  is  a 
fault  time  will  be  sure  to  correct — yes ;  a  fault  on  M'liich 
years  and  experience  will  be  sure  to  act  as  infallible 
specific." 

She  turned  from  him  with  slightly  impatient  gesture, 
saying  to  herself,  ''  Time  has  not  corrected  the  fault  in 
my  father,  and  while  I  have  his  example  before  me,  I 
shall  never  believe  in  the  necessity  of  growing  selfish  as 
one  grows  old." 


CHAPTEE  YU. 

EITTS    OF   BKIGHTNESS    THROUGH   DARKSOME    GL003I. 

FoF.  a  few  days,  aimless  and  listless,  Minnie  groped 
her  way  blindly  along  through  the  shattered  fra.o:ments 
cast  about  her  by  the  downfall  of  the  unsubstantial  fabric 
of  hope  in  which  she  had  lately  accustomed  herself  to 
dwell.  The  society  she  had  once  sought  with  avidity, 
she  now  as  persistently  avoided.  Gentle,  uncomplain- 
ing, unwearied  in  attentions  to  her  father's  comfort,  to- 
ward all  others  her  manners  wore  an  icy  chill,  calculated 


THE    BLACK    PLU^TE   EIFLES  107 

to  check  prying  v.nd  inquisitive  remark.  The  faintest 
allusion  to  'Mr.  Caruthers  was  sufficient  to  make  her 
treblv  guard  every  approach  to  her  coniidence;  and 
many  a  word  spoken  in  unaffected  sympathy  she  con- 
strued as  expression  of  contemptuous  pity,  and  resented 
accordinglv.  ^      ^  ^      ^   i 

She  was  not  one  to  yield  supinely,  for  any  protracted 
period,  to  influence  so  depressing.  Her  own  personal 
griefs  paled  into  insigniiicance  in  contrast  with  tne 
frio-htfully  accumulatiiis:  evils  wherewith  the  monster 
rebellion  was  scourgino:  the  land  ;  her  own  aching  sense 
of  disappointment  and  loss  was  partially  forgotten  m 
efforts  to  aid  those  who  were  risking  all  that  man  on 
earth  holds  dear  in  upholding  the  nation's  honor,  de- 
fending the  nation's  life.  Coarse  denims  affordea  her 
an  unwonted  species  of  needlework,  while  strong  grey 
flannel  passed  nimbly  through  her  fingers  ;  and  she 
learned,  alas !  to  fashion  snowy  robes  for  cold,  insensate 
forms— precious  memorials  of  what  has  been. 

Weeks  came  and  went  in  sad  succession,  finding  her 
busy  hands  never  idle.  Her  employment  was  one  cal- 
culated to  make  her  soberly  thoughtful;  and  she  was  no 
lono-er  forced  to  mask  a  heavy  heart  by  countenance  oi 
smiTino-  serenitv.  The  truth  was  gradually  dawmn^g  on 
her  perceptions  that  life  was  no  holiday  gift  to  be  trifled 
away  at  the  option  of  its  receiver,  but  a  sacred  loan,  lor 
whose  improvement  we  are  held  strictly  accountable. 
In  deciding  on  any  course  to  be  pursued,  her  first  ques- 
tion was  no  longer.  Would  I  like  it  ?  but.  Would  it  be 
ri  o*ht  ? 

Thus  she  sat  and  sewed  and  thought,  one  bleak  and 
gusty  winter's  eve,  when  dead  leaves  rustled  drearily 
along  the  drear  earth,  and  the  voice  of  the  wind  was 
like  a  sick  child's  wail.  Mr.  Brandon  had  been  suiter- 
ino-  for  several  days  with  a  severe  sore-throat;  and 
Minnie,  after  having  applied  a  fomentation  of  hops,  was 


108  TnE   RIVAL   VOLUNTEErwS  ;    OR, 

bidding  liim  good-night  on  the  stairs,  when  the  rapid 
tread  of  horses'  hoofs  smote  lier  ear. 

Extinguishing  the  night-candle  she  held  in  her  hand, 
slie  darted  back  to  the  room  they  had  just  left,  raised  the 
window  long  enough  to  convince  herself  that  there  were 
at  least  a  dozen  horsemen  approaching  the  house,  closed 
and  refastened  the  window,  hastily  rejoining  her  father. 

"  The  guerillas  !*'  she  whispered,  quaking  with  appre- 
hension. 

*'  It  may  be  that  it  is  only  forage  and  plunder  they 
seek  ;  if  so,  we  had  best  hide  ourselves.  The  barn  and 
ricks  are  easily  found." 

"  Better  lose  them  and  all  else  than  life ;  in  the  brick 
cellar-arch,  with  the  heavily  clamped  oaken  door,  we 
shall  be  safe.  Poor  old  Chloe,  what  is  to  become  of 
her  VI 

"  jSTever  mind  her  ;  she  belongs  to  the  privileged  race, 
and  will  not  be  harmed  by  eitlier  side." 

At  sound  of  a  loud  knock  at  the  outer  door  with  a 
whip-handle,  the  speakers  descended  hastily  to  their 
chosen  places  of  refuge.  The  creaking  of  boots  and  the 
banging  of  doors  soon  gave  evidence  that  the  marauders 
had  effected  an  entrance. 

"  Plark  !"  whispered  Minnie,  clutching  her  father's 
arm,  '•  there  is  a  step  on  the  cellar  stairs." 

A  cautious  and  stealthy  step  it  was,  gliding  nearer 
and  nearer,  until  a  ray  of  light  streamed  beneath  the 
door  of  the  arch.  Speechless  with  apprehension, 
Minnie's  grasp  unconsciously  tightened  on  her  father's 
arm.  The  soft  coal  and  kindlings  were  only  separated 
from  them  by  a  brick  wall.  Was  the  house  to  be  set  on 
fire  ?  She  breathed  more  freely  as  the  step  retreated, 
passing  up  the  stairway.  Short  the  respite  granted  for 
self-gratulation.  Half  a  dozen  men  were  soon  ransacking 
the  cellar. 

"  Here  is  a  likely  place  to  look  for  valuables,"  cried 


THT:   black   PLUifE  EIFLES.  109 

one,  striking  witli  his  mnsket  the  door  of  the  arch. 
*•  Ab,  ha  !  what  is  this?  A  trapped  fox,  bj  the  knave 
of  clubs!  Here  is  a  key  in  the  lock;  hunt  up  jour 
pincers,  Jack,  and  be  sprj  about  it ;  let's  see  whether 
It  is  an  elk  or  a  coon  we've  run  to  earth." 

JSToiselesslj  Miunie  abstracted  the  key  from  its  ward. 
"  Great  good  that  does  jou,"  called  a  voice  outside. 
"Here,  give   us  a  charge  of  powder,  Jack,  and  I  will 
try  the  metal  of  this  lock." 

There  was  an  explosion,  succeeded  by  a  violent  shake 
at  the  door.  The  lock  had  been  blown  off;  but  a  strono 
iron  bolt  was  still  firmly  secured  in  its  socket.  A  heavy 
stick  of  timber  was  procured  to  aid  their  operations  in 
battering  down  the  door. 

"  They  will  soon  be  in  here,"  whispered  Minnie  to  her 
father.  "  1  on  must  hide  in  the  dark  closet ;  for,  if  dis- 
covered, they  would  hang  you  to  the  first  tree." 
"  But  you  !  remember  Honour  and  Wilhelmine !" 
"They  had  made  themselves  obnoxious  by  bitter  de- 
nunciations of  the  rebel  cause  amongst  its  supporters, 
before  vrhom  I  have  been  very  guarded  in  my  remarks! 
Quick,  or  it  will  be  too  late." 

She  grasped  the  row  of  shelves  at  the  end  of  the  arch, 
when,  swinging  forward  on  hinges,  it  disclosed  a  narrow 
cell  lined  with  brick  and  closely  cemented.  Eeluctantly, 
and  in  compliance  with  his  daughter's  urgent  entreaties, 
Mr.  Brandon  passed  behind  the  shelves,  and  suffered 
them  to  be  swung  back  to  their  original  position. 

The  door  partially  gave  way  at'  last,  and  a  man  in 
grey  uniform,  with  light  moustaches,  and  audacious, 
rollicking  swagger,  sprang  through  the  opening. 

'-By  my  certes,  a  fairer  prize  than  I  had  "hoped  to 
capture,"  he  cried,  with  a  bold  glance  of  admiring  inso- 
lence.^ "  Here's  to  our  better  acquaintance.  Drink  to 
me  with  thine  eyes,  sweet,  and  pledo-e  me  in  sparklino- 
draughts."  r  o 


ItO  THE   EIVAL   VOL-C^TTinEES  ;    OB, 

*^  Shame  on  yon,  Brent,  for  insulting  a  defenceless 
woman,"  remonstrated  one  of  his  followers. 

'^  Now,  a  murrain  seize  npon  thee,  incomprehensible 
dolt,  for  the  foul-mouthed  suspicion  crossing  thy  lips ! 
Talk  of  insult,  when  knightly  devoirs  make  the  staple  in 
the  order  of  exercises.  Heed  not  his  loose  tongue,  my 
charming  Amarylla,  but  bless  the  fate  that  threw  you 
into  the  hands  of  one  w4io  never  yet  refused,  to  fly  to  the 
succor  of  beauty  in  distress.  You  are  frightened,  over- 
come, poor  trembling  fawn,  let  me  reassure  you,  let  mo 
ofibr  my  arm  as  support." 

Minnie  shrank  from  him  with  uncontrollable  aversion. 
To  be  sure  she  had  not  provoked  the  wrath  of  any  by  stric- 
tures on  the  rebellion ;  but  this  availed  her  naught  while 
in  the  power  of  a  man  whose  love  was  greatly  more  to 
be  dreaded  than  his  hate. 

"  Don't  be  coy,"  he  said,  with  a  slight  frown.  *'  A 
soldier's  rough  courtesy  is  not  to  be  lightly  scorned. 
Give  me  your  hand,  or  I  will  take  it." 

Knowing  resistance  to  be  worse  than  vain,  she  submit- 
ted to  his  escort  up  the  narrow  stairway. 

While  the  cottage  was  ransacked  for  purposes  of  waste 
and  pillage,  Mr.  Brandon's  horse  was  saddled  and  Min- 
nie seated  thereupon.  So  great  was  her  dread  that  her 
father  might  emerge  from  his  hiding-place  and  be  cap- 
tured, or  that  the  nouse  might  be  lired  and  he  left  to 
perish  in  the  flames,  that  apprehensions  on  her  own  ac- 
count assumed,  for  the  moment,  a  place  of  secondary 
importance  in  her  estimation.  It  was  only  on  riding  off 
with  the  ];)illagers  that  she  awoke  to  a  clear  sense  of  her 
forlorn  and  helpless  condition,  aggravated,  as  it  was,  by 
assiduities  she  dared  not  resent  from  her  special  captor. 
They  had  passed,  without  interruption,  two  or  three  miles 
on  tlieir  way,  when  a  horseman  from  the  roadside  called 
out,  in  imperative  tone,  "  Halt,  fiiends,  and  receive 
ordei*s." 


THE  BLi-CK  PLUME   RIFLES.  Ill 

"Our  ciiief!"  ejaculated  Brent,  in  a  tone  of  extreme 
surprise.  "  We  are  all  here,  and  await  orders,  Lam- 
beth." 

"  Lambeth !"  cried  Minnie,  with  a  sudden  thrill  of 
joy  and  hope ;  "  that  is  the  name  I  was  bidden  to 
remember.  Help  me  to  escape !  restore  me  to  my 
home !" 

"  This  is  in  palpable  infringement  of  plain  commands, 
Brent.  How  comes  it  that  this  young  woman  makes 
one  of  your  number?" 

"I  entreat  of  you  absolution  without  too  stringent 
confession,  or  the  severe  penance  of  forsaking  the  error 
of  my  ways.  Of  a  verity  this  young  damsel  is  blessed 
not  only  with  a  comely  countenance,  but  hath  fair  gifts 
of  speech,  w^hich,  with  time  and  opportunity,  I  shall 
teach  her  to  employ  unto  my  edification.  In  alleviation 
of  the  rigors  and  hardships  entailed  by  our  nomadic 
style  of  life,  you  surely  would  not  interdict  the  solace 

"  Have  done  with  this  foolery,"  sternly  interposed  the 
chief  of  the  band.  "  Would  you  stop  to  have  out  your 
joke  with  the  hangman's  noose  preparing  for  your  neck  ? 
We  are  tracked,  pursued;  away  to  the  rendezvous — the 
lime-stone  cave  on  Kathben  Bluff.  I  will  be  there  al- 
most as  soon  as  yourselves.     Quick!  begone  I" 

Waving  on  his  men  with  gesture  imperious,  he  seized 
Minnie's  bridle-rein. 

"  Wliere  is  your  home,  young  woman?  Tell  me  in 
few  words  ;  I've  not  an  instant  to  lose." 

In  concise  phrase  she  gave  him  the  information  he 
sought. 

lie  accompanied  her  within  sight  of  the  cottage, 
wheeled,  then  curbed  his  horse  for  a  few  words  at 
parting, 

"  Bid  me  God  speed,  benefactress  mine  ;  for  you  know 
not  the  dangers  from  which  I  have  rescued  you.    My 


112  '  THE   RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

ways  are  of  the  roughest,  my  deeds  not  wliat  they  should 
be ;  but  I  liave  not  deserved  ill  of  you,  for  I  have  not 
rendered  unto  you  evil  for  good.  It  is  years  since  I  saw 
a  preacher's  desk,  or  listened  to  a  preacher's  warning ; 
but,  taking  my  text  from  your  acts,  this  say  I  unto  you. 
If  thine  enemy  be  an  hungered  or  athirst,  not  even  a 
cup  of  cold  Vv'ater,  bestOwed  in  pure  charity,  shall  fail 
of  its  reward." 

''  I  will  treasure  vour  words.  God  speed  you  to  the 
right!" 

On  reaching  the  cottage,  she  dismounted  and  hastily 
entered  the  front  door,  which  stood  wide  open.  All  was 
Btill ;  no  one  astir,  no  light  in  the  house.  Groping  her 
way  to  the  kitchen,  she  lit  a  candle  and  proceeded  there- 
with to  the  sitting-room,  where  broken  chairs,  tables 
smashed  and  overturaed,  torn  books,  and  shattered 
shelves  and  cases,  afforded  vivid  reminder  of  rebel 
raid. 

Hurrying  np-stairs,  she  rapped  at  the  door  of  her 
father's  sleeping-room.  There  was  no  answer.  She  en- 
tered the  chamber  and  found  it  tenantless,  the  bed  not 
having  besn  disturbed.  Could  it  be  that  the  dark  closet 
hiid  been  so  long  closed  that  its  air  had  become  un- 
breathable,  and  that  in  escaping  the  hangman's  rope  he 
had  met  death  by  suffocation  ? 

With  flying  feet,  she  made  her  way  to  the  cellar.  The 
doors  were  all  open,  even  to  the  inner  one  of  shelves, 
which  concealed  nothing.  Through  every  room  in  the 
house  she  searched ;  but  to  no  purpose,  her  father  was 
not  to  be  found.  Old  Chloe  had  slept  undisturbed 
through  all  the  din,  and  undisturbed  Minnie  left  her, 
returning  to  the  stable,  unsaddling  her  horse,  and  leav- 
ing the  animal  in  comfortable  quarters  for  the  night. 

Deeply  anxious  on  account  of  her  father's  inexplicabh 
absence,  she  was  not  in  the  least  inclined  to  sleep ;  and, 
Piter  closing  and  fastening  the  doors,  she  sat  down  by 


THE    BLACK    PLU3IE    EIFLES.  113 

the  sitting-room  winclo^v,  where  the  monrnfiil  Trail  of  the 
iinrcstful  wind  mingled  not  untitlj  with  the  restless 
surging  of  her  own  perturbed  spirit.  Long,  and  fraught 
with  many  a  nameless  terror,  were  the  leaden-footed 
hours.  Her  heart  leaped  to  her  throat  at  sound  so  slight 
that,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  it  would  have  passed 
without  notice. 

Her  ears  do  not  deceive  her  now  ;  that  is  surely  the 
sound  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  hard-trod  avenue.  On  the 
alert  for  any  contingency,  and  determined  not  to  be  sur- 
prised by  friend  or  foe,  she  darted  from  the  house,  and, 
making  rapid  detour  of  the  barn,  took  shelter  behind  a 
clump  of  junipers,  whence  she  maintained  strict  outlook 
over  the  approaching  horsemen.  They  were  three  in 
number;  and,  greatly  to  her  relief,  she  detected  the 
tones  of  her  father's  voice  addressed  in  friendly  re- 
mark to  one  of  his  companions.  There  was  no  further 
occasion  for  concealment.  Father  and  daughter  ex- 
pressed mutual  delight  at  being  assured  of  each  others' 
safety.  By  the  light  of  a  lantern,  speedily  procured, 
she"  saw  that  yet  another  craved  her  welcome.  It  was 
Morland  Ellsmead's  hand  that  cordially  grasped  her 
own. 

"  Let  us  adjourn  to  the  house  while  the  horses  rest," 
proposed  Mr.  Brandon. 

'*  Morland  can  stay  if  he  likes,"  returned  the  third  of 
the  trio,  the  son  of  a  neighboring  farmer;  "but,  as  to  my 
poor  nags,  they  have  to  work  carting  sand  to  the  brick- 
kiln all  day  to-morrow,  so  I  must  be  oil'.  Good-night, 
or  good-morning,  rather." 

The  remaining  three  entered  the  cottage  together. 
The  story  of  Minnie's  safe  return  was  soon  related. 
Then  Mr.  Brandon  explained  that,  leaving  his  retreat  in 
time  to  ascertain  the  direction  taken  by  his  daughter's 
captors,  he  had  roused  the  neighbors  and  started  in 
swift  pursuit.     For  several  miles  they  found  little  diS- 


114  TEE   EIVAL   VOLUXTEEP.S  ;    OR, 

culty  in  tracinc:  the  marauders,  but  farther  or.,  it  was 
only  by  close  and  careful  scrutiny  that  V.iey  could  detect 
the  prints  of  tlie  horses'  hoofs,  which  disappeared  alto- 
getlier  on  nearing  the  base  of  the  riv^er-side  bluff. 

Minnie  turned  on  their  guest  a  questioning  look, 
which  plainly  asked,  "  How  came  tou  to  be  of  tho 
party «" 

"  I  will  explain  all  in  the  morning,"  he  replied  to  her 
glance  ;  "  but  3^our  father  is  quite  worn  out  now  ;  leave 
me  on  guard  here,  while  you  both  seek  needed  rest." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  your  staying  up  to  watch," 
demurred  Mr.  Brandon  ;  "  we  have  always  a  spare  bed 
for  a  friend." 

*'  I  dare  not  risk  the  acceptance  of  luxury  so  unusual, 
in  which  case  I  should  be  sure  to  oversleep.  It  is  now 
three,  and  I  must  leave  at  six." 

"  Then  make  yourself  as  comfortable  as  circumstances 
will  allow.  Take  a  nap  on  the  sofa  ;  there  is  one  arm 
and  a  cushion  left.  My  throat  is  like  a  fresh  scald  from 
this  irritating  night-air  ;  but  what  of  that  ?  we  are  all 
safe,  for  whicii  I  am  devoutly  thankful.  Dear  me  ! 
what  good  did  these  vandals  find  in  destroying  what 
was  nothing  to  them,  much  to  me  ?  Here  is  an  anno- 
tated edition  of  Paley,  invaluable  as  a  work  of  reference, 
torn  and  mutilated  in  a  most  barbarous  fashion." 

While  Mr.  Brandon  was  bemoaning  the  fate  of  his 
long-cherished  volumes,  and  striving  to  restore  contents 
to  covers  from  which  they  had  been  rudely  sundered, 
Morland  Ellsmead,  holding  open  the  door  for  Minnie  to 
pass,  murmured,  scarcely  louder  than  a  vrhisper,  "  Thank 
Heaven,  you  are  safe ;  I  would  have  risked  my  life  to 
serve  you." 

She  responded  by  a  grateful  look,  and  passed  up  the 
stair-case  with  a  smile  of  pleasure  wreathing  her  lips ; 
sorely  wounded  by  slight  and  neglect  from  source 
whence  she  had  least  expected  it,  this  sincere  avowal  of 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EITLES.  116 

interest  in  her  welfare,  of  earnest,  respectful  cympathy 
in  her  behalf,  fell  like  balm  of  healing  on  the  aching 
spirit  pining  in  secret  over  unprovoked  wrongs. 

The  varied  causes  of  excitement  she  had  undergone 
precluded  all  possibility  of  sleep,  and  she  was  early 
astir.  Believing  herself  the  only  person  awake  in  the 
house,  she  stole  noiselessly  down-stairs,  but  as  her  foot 
touched  the  entry  carpet,  the  outer  door  opened,  and 
Morland  Ellsmead  gave  her  morning  salutation. 

"  I  have  been  out  to  look  after  my  horse  ;  it  is  very 
kind  of  you  to  let  me  see  you  before  I  go." 

A  delicate  tinge  of  carmine  dyed  Minnie's  cheek. 

"  I  knew  you  had  to  leave  early,  Mr.  Ellsmead,  and  I 
am  going  down  to  the  kitchen  to  hurry  Chloe's  prepara- 
tions for  breakfast." 

"  Time  enough  for  that  when  I  have  explained  to  you 
how  I  happened  here.  In  five  minutes  I  can  tell  you 
all ;  and,  in  all  probability,  I  shall  not  soon  have  a 
chance  of  speaking  with  yon  again.  I  want  your  advice  ; 
I  need  it." 

"  Mine,  oh  !  Morland,  when  my  own  footsteps  are  so 
wavering  and  uncertain  that  I  have  oft  to  retrace  them 
with  bitter  pain." 

"  Happy  for  you  that  they  are  not  irretraceable. 
JSTow  sit  on  the  sofa  beside  me,  and  teach  me  to  bear 
my  burdens  as  patiently  and  uncomplainingly  as  you 
bear  your  own.  My  period  of  enlistment  expired  yes- 
terday ;  I  have  been  offered  a  salary  of  fifteen  hundred 
a  year  as  agent  in  a  woollen  factory,  and  I  have  been 
offered  thirteen  dollars  a  month  to  serve  as  private  in 
the  ranks  of  a  brigade  recruiting  for  service  in  a  south- 
ern field.     Give  me  your  counsel  ;  shall  I  go  or  stay  ?" 

"  Does  the  country  need  you  ?" 

"  The  country  needs  me  ;  and  I  have  no  ties  ;  not 
even  those  of  friendship  to  hinder  my  departure." 

"  There  you  do  greatly  err ;  my  friends  are  not  so 


116  THE    RIVAL   VOLU>'TEERS;    OK, 

many  but  that  one  stricken  from  the  roll  makes  griev- 
ons  loss  ;  and  yet,  at  risk  of  having  one  friend  the  less, 
if  any  word  of  mine  could  encourage  him  to  volunteer 
in  country's  defence,  such  word,  no  matter  what  the 
cost  of  speaking  it,  should  not  be  AvithhchL" 

Beneath  the  eager  scrutiny  of  liis  searching  gaze,  her 
eyes  drooped  and  the  carmine  deepened  to  crimson  on 
her  clieek. 

"  A  fair  promise,  freely  given  ;  now  will  I  test  your 
power  of  fulfillment.  Three  words  I  spoke  to  you,  once, 
for  which  you  gave  me  merited  rebuff;  shoitld  I  repeat 
them,  would  your  reply  be  still  the  same  ?" 

"  Do  not  trouble  yourself  by  vain  repetition  ;  I  have 
the  words  quite  by  heart." 

''  Because  my  lips  spoke  them  ?" 

"  Because  your  lips  spoke  them,  Morland." 

^'  Repeat  them  yourself  that  I  may  be  doubly  sure 
memory  has  not  played  you  false." 

Crimsoning  to  the  very  temples,  she  gave  the  triple- 
worded  countersign  he  sought. 

Tones  commingling  as  gently  as  odor-laden  breeze 
sighing  through  sweets  of  woodland  bloom,  transformed 
that  homely  cottage  parlor  into  realm  of  fairy  enchant- 
ment for  its  occupants.  Swift  sped  minutes  all  too  fleet- 
ing— minutes  burdened  with  harmony  delicious  from 
that  old,  old  song  that  first  floated  on  the  golden  airs  of 
Paradise. 

"How  time  has  flown,  Minnie;  I  must  leave  you, 
and  leave  much  I  wished  to  say  unspoken." 

"  Wait  one  moment,  Morland,  I  must  tell  you  tliis. 
The  sacred  cause  that  claims  your  best  services,  claims 
mine  also.  It  is  but  little  I  can  accomplish  :  but  let 
me  earn  the  record — '  She  hath  done  what  she  could,' 
and  it  will  be  well  with  me.  We  weak  women  cannot, 
like  you,  strike  strong  blows  in  defence  of  the  right,  but 
we  can,  at  least,  spend  our  best  energies  in  care  and 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  117 

tendance  of  those  who  are  brought,  helpless  and  siiffer- 
iiio-  from  the  battle-iield,  wliich  is  no  place  for  iemmme 
tread.  My  fat]ier  is  going  to  Chicago  ;  I  am  gomg  to 
St.  Marc  Hospital."  _ 

"To  St.  Marc  Hospital,  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
crowded  in  the  vicinity !  oh,  Minnie,  you  know  not 
what  you  do  ;  you  wlio  have  been  so  guarded  m  the 
seclusion  of  home  ;  so  delicately  and  tenderly  reared, 
to  be  brought  in  contact  with  coarse,  even  vicious 
natures,  to  have  your  motives  misconstrued,  to   

'-  Hush,  Morland.  Are  you  to  be  exposed  to  the 
fierce  breath  of  battle-roar,  to  deadly  rifle  and  mnsket- 
hail,  to  thirsty  blade  of  gleaming  steel,  to  seething  rush 
of  cannon  ball,  while  I  sit  supinely  down,  the  ^mds  ot 
heaven  not  permitted  to  visit  my  cheek  too  roughly  i 
Woman  was  created,  if  I  have  read  my  Bible  aright,  to 
be  faithful  help-meet  unto  man;  does  she  fulfill  the  pur- 
pose of  her  being,  if  in  his  hour  of  sorest  trial,  through 
mere  stress  of  conventionalism,  she  is  induced  to  torteit 
her  dearest  earthly  prerogative  ?  Our  greatest  generals 
are  subiected  to  misconstruction  and  to  contumely, 
and  why  should  I  shrink  from  enduring,  m  my  own 
humble  degree,  my  lot  and  part  in  the  deep  anguish 
which  afaicts  the  land,  and  every  true  child  o±  the  soil 
in  its  borders?"  ^         .       -,    ,  .^  . 

"  I  glory  in  your  patriotism,  Mmnie  ;  but  it  seems  to 
me  there  are  ways  in  which  you  might  make  yourself 
useful,  without  depriving  yourself  of  the  shieldmg  and 
protecting  influences  of  home." 

-  Providence  has  seemed  to  open  a  way  lor  me  m  a 
different  direction.  Listen  while  I  tell  you  how_;_  and, 
oh  !  Morland,  give  me  an  encouraging  word,  it  you 
can,  as  I  don't  quite  see  my  way  clear  ;  and  it  is  very 
hard,  at  times,  to  take  the  responsibility  of  decidmg  on 
my  own  course  of  action.  Dr.  Waldo,  who  attended 
my  mother  in  her  last  illness,  is  now  directing  sm-geon 


118  THE   RIVAL   TOLUXTEERS;    OR, 

at  St.  Marc's,  '^•here  he  wishes  me  to  come,  not  as  nurse, 
for  there  is  a  sufficiency  of  male  attendance  in  the  sick 
wards,  but  as  directress  in  the  preparation  of  extracts, 
infusions,  the  herbal  restoratives  and  medicaments  he 
Ion  or  ago  taught  me  to  compound  ;  permitting  me  to 
search  the  woods  and  fields  fur  anodyne  and  alterative, 
instead  of  sending  me  with  a  Latin  prescription  to  the 
apothecary's  for  less  harmless  draught.  I  have  bidden 
you  God  speed  in  your  loftier  spliere  of  eflort ;  Heaven 
knows  the  words  sending  you  from  my  side,  mayhap 
forever,  were  not  easily  spoken,  and  will  you  be  less 
generous  in  bidding  me  haste  onward  in  the  way  duty 
bids  me  tread  ?" 

^' If  it  be  duty  that  beckons,  you  onward,  Minnie, 
heaven  forbid  that  hand  of  mine  should  place  stumbling- 
block  in  your  path.  Be  true  to  your  own  sense  of 
right,  and  there  is  no  fear  of  your  being  false  to 
me." 

He  drew  out  his  silver  hunting- watch. 

"  It  lacks  but  three  minutes  of  my  hour  for  starting ; 
I  must  not  linger  here." 

"  I  forgot  your  breakfast,  Morland ;  how  shall  I  apol- 
ogize ?" 

"  xSo  apology  is  necessary  ;  I,  too,  forgot  it." 

She  walked  with  him  as  he  led  his  horse  down  the 
orange-hedged  avenue.  In  almost  unbroken  silence 
they  traversed  the  way,  which  had  never  seemed  so 
short.  The  rustic  gate  which  must  witness  their  part- 
ing was  reached  all  too  soon. 

"  Farewell,  Minnie,  my  own  ;  if  I  am  stricken  down 
by  sabre-thrust  or  cannon-ball,  I  shall  be  content  to  be 
tended  by  no  hand  but  yours.  Pardon,  my  last  words 
shall  not  be  of  theme  so  gloomy.  Let  us  rather  look 
forward  with  hope  to  that  glorious  hour,  when  this 
unnatural  antagonism  between  those  who  should  bo 
friends  and  brothers,  hapj)ily  overcome,  our  union  may 


THE    BLACK    PLUilE    RIFLES.  119 

be  consummated  with  that  of  these  now  alienated 
States.  I  shall  perform  my  duties  all  the  better  for 
knowing  how  faithfully  you  will  cling  to  yours  ;  and  if, 
mayhap,  I  look  on  your  face  for  the  last  time,  there  is 
a  fairer  land  of  promise  where  time,  the  destroyer,  can- 
not come." 

''  I  will  keep  your  words  as  talisman,  if  my  own  life- 
task  should  seem  ever  over-burdensome  when  I  am  left 
to  bear  it  alone." 

He  drew  a  plain  gold  ring  from  his  own  and  slipped 
it  on  her  finger;  it  was  much  too  large,  and  she  returned 
it  to  him. 

''  I  have  no  need  of  any  such  reminder,  Morland ; 
your  photograph  will  remain  faithfully  mirrored  in  my 
remembrance,  though  no  sun-rays  stamped  it  there. 
Neither  do  you,  I  trust,  need  any  parting  token  to 
bring  me  to  your  thoughts." 

"  But  one,  Minnie,  one  keepsake  for  memory  only — 
voiceless  token  from  unsullied  lips  taken — thanks  ;  I'm 
away." 

She  watched  his  receding  figure  with  contending 
emotions  of  pride,  regret  and  tenderness,  nntil  it  disap- 
peared over  the  brow  of  a  gently  undulating  slope. 
Once  more,  with  strained  vision,  she  caught  sight  of 
him  making  his  way  up  tlie  opposing  ascent.  He  saw 
her,  too,  and  removing  his  cap,  waved  her  parting 
salute  therewith.  ItVith  brimming  eyes  she  returned 
the  signal. 

"  Gone,  gone  ;  and  if  he  should  never  return,  could  I 
ever  forgive  myself  for  having  spoken  the  words  that 
gave  him  to  the  noblest  cause  for  which  man  ever  fought 
and  died.  He  came  to  me  for  encouragement ;  I  gave 
it  him,  but  who  is  to  encourage  me?  My  words  bade 
him  hie  forth  to — 

'  The  glorious  strife  which  is  the  joy  of  men — ' 


120  THE    RIVAL    volunteers;    OR, 

but  had  I  counselled  him  to  hours  of  silken  ease,  when 
his  brave  brethren  are  pouring  out  blood  like  water  for 
the  regeneration  of  the  land,  would  he  have  spoken  to 
me  as  he  has  spoken,  words  that  will  be  mine  for  al 
ages  to  come,  no  matter  what  the  future  may  have  in 
store  for  me?  I  understand,  now,  how  Hector's  patriot- 
ism overcame  liis  affection,  so  that  he  could  say  to 
Andromache,  at  parting— 

[I  could  not  love  thee,  dear,  so  much, 
Loved  I  not  honor  more.'  -' 


CHAPTER   YIII. 

COERESPONDEXCE. 

Ox  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  she  had  parted 
from  one  whom  she  seemed  to  have  won  and  lost  in  an 
hour,  she  received  from  him  the  following  brief  note, 
which  certainly  had  no  merit,  so  far  as  literary  ability 
was  concerned,  to  commend  it  to  the  repeated  perusals 
it  received : 

''  My  dearest  Mixxie  : — On  parting  from  you  this 
morning,  my  courage  broke  down  entirely,  at  thought 
that  no  link  of  communication  was  left  between  us.  I 
must  hear  from  you ;  positively  m^ist.  There  is  no 
knowing  to  what  infection  you  may  be  exposed  at 
St.  Marc's,  and  if  you  do  not  write  me  a  favorable 
account  of  the  place,  I  shall  not  consent  to  your  remain- 
ing in  it. 

"'  Excuse  that  blot ;  there  are  four  wide-awakes  play- 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  121 

ing  eiiclire  on  this  bencb,  and  tliey  joggle  so  I  can't 
write  straiglit,  and  gabble  so  I  can't  think  straight 
eirher,  fur  tliat  matter. 

*•  I  liave  been  sworn  into  service,  and  have  received 
mv  new  uniform.  There  goes  tap  of  drum  for  dress- 
j^arade.  Two  minutes,  prithee,  betbre  1  fall  into  line. 
Confound  the  rub-a-dubster !  ho  is  newly  appointed, 
and  delighteth  in  exercise  of  a  little  brief  authority.  I 
inclose  you  the  number  of  our  regiment,  and  will  send 
you  address  in  full  as  soon  as  our  companies  are  let- 
tered.    Pray  write  to —  ^ 

'^  Tours  nntil  deatli, 

'^  MOELAXD." 

''  True  as  steel,"  she  said  to  herself,  on  folding  this 
brief  epistle.  ''  Strange  that  writers  should  parcel  out 
plays  into  artificial  division  of  comedy  and  of  tragedy, 
when,  in  real  life,  there  is  usually  in  each  day's  experi- 
ence a  combination  of  both." 

]\Iinnie  had  thought,  on  returning  to  the  cottage,  to 
explain  to  her  father,  as  soon  as  practicable,  the  new 
turn  of  affairs  in  her  own  destiny ;  but  the  bronchial 
derangement  from  which  he  had  been  suffering  had 
been  so  much  aggravated  by  anxiety  and  exposure  that 
for  several  days  he  vras  unable  to  swallow,  or  to  speak  a 
loud  word,  and  she  could  do  nothing  save  guard  him 
from  intrusion,  and  insure  him  the  undisturbed  repose 
on  which  nature  insisted  while  making  unavoidable  re- 
pairs. 

Even  when  lie  was  able  to  take  his  nsual  place  in  the 
sitting-room,  his  daughter  shrank  from  enterin.g  on  a 
theme  which  might  agitate  him,  thereby  retarding  his 
recovery.  She  was  spared  the  embarrassment  by  a  new 
and  unexpected  move  on  his  part. 

^'  Sit  down  beside  me,  child,  while  I  talk  over  with 
you  the  perplexities  it  is  but  right  you  should  know  and 

6 


123  THE    KIVAL    VOLU-NTEERS  ;    OK, 

share.  Last  week  I  liatl  what  I  considered  an  ample  in- 
come to  support  our  pLain  style  of  living;  this  week, 
mj  circumstances  have  so  essentially  changed  that  I 
don't  see  quite  clera-ly  what  course  to  adopt.  The  pow- 
der factory  in  which  my  fortune  was  principally  invested, 
and  from  which  my  annual  income  was  chiefly  derivable, 
lias  been  torn  down  by  the  rebels.  The  damages  i'all 
mostly  to  my  account,  as  the  Insurance  Ofiices  are  natu- 
rally shy  of  taking  risks  on  buildings  covering  highly 
explosive  merchandise.  jS"ow  comes  the  claim  on  my 
patriotism,  much  quickened,  I  own,  by  the  rutiianly  as- 
sault of  a  fev\'  nights  since.  Yv^e  have  been  so  mnch 
accustomed  to  the  peace  and  security  conferred  by  our 
free  government  that  we  prize  it  no  more  than  the  free 
air  of  heaven ;  but  the  liour  has  now  come  when  every 
loyal  supporter  of  the  Law  and  the  Constitution  must 
fly  to  their  support,  or  be  content  to  go  dovrn  with  them, 
and  be  buried  in  the  ruins  from  which  cliaos  and  anarchy 
will  spring  in  rank  and  noisome  growth.  I,  for  one,  am 
fully  ready  to  assume  my  share  of  the  national  burden. 
Recruits  for  Union  service  are  rapidly  filling  our  ranks ; 
arms  will  be  supplied  with  all  possible  dispatch  ;  but  to 
make  these  latter  available,  ammunition  must  be  in 
equally  abundant  supply.  This  is  vrhere  we  are  lacking, 
and  forms  my  motive  for  desiring  to  rebuild  the  mill 
without  a  moment's  unnecessary  delay ;  it  is  want  of  re- 
quisite funds  alone  that  stays  my  hand.  The  bears  have 
control  of  the  Brokers'  Board  at  present,  so  that  I  should 
not  realize  half  their  intrinsic  value  from  the  forced  sale 
of  bank  and  railv\-ay  shares;  there  is  no  means  of  raising 
the  requisite  amount,  that  I  can  see,  save  through  a 
mortgage,  as  heavy  as  it  will  bear,  on  this  place.  If 
vou  were  provided  for  I  should  not  hesitate  an  instant 
m  adopting  this  course." 

'•  Then  do  not  hesitate  an  instant  now.     I  am  young 
and  strong,  and  quite  as  ready  as  yourself  to  submit  to 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    PvIFLES.  123 

nny  sacrifice  that  would  conduce  to  the  country's  wel- 
fare. If  Morland  Ellsmead  returns  safely  from  the 
southern  expedition  on  vrhich  he  is  bound,  he  will  seek 
yonr  consent  to  our  marriage.  While  he  is  devoting 
his  best  enei'gies  to  cause  so  glorions,  think  you  I  should 
be  content  to  sit  supinely  down  without  contributing  my 
mite  to  the  Xational  Treasury  ?  I  only  await  your  per- 
mission to  take  my  place  at  St.  Marc's,  as  assistant  in 
preparing  comforts  and  delicacies  for  its  sick  and 
wounded  inmates.  Here  comes  Dr.  AYaldo,  who  first 
proposed  the  plan  to  me.  I  ^vill  leave  you  to  discuss 
the  matter  with  him." 

'•  Good  morning,  Miss  Brandon,''  said  the  doctor, 
briskly  entering  the  room ;  "  I  have  come  for  your  deci- 
sion, agreeably  to  promise." 

"  I  have  decided  in  the  affirmative,  on  condition  of 
your  obtaining  my  father's  approval,"  she  returned, 
effecting  a  hasty  retreat. 

Mr.  Brandon  remained  long  enough  at  the  cottage  to 
make  such  dispositions  of  his  estate  as  were  necessitated 
by  his  new  project,  and  then  took  his  departure  for 
Chicago. 

Minnie  had  been  long  enough  installed  in  her  new 
office  to  learn  that  it  was  no  sinecure,  when  a  letter, 
written  on  a  half  sheet  of  soiled  and  crumpled  paper, 
was  placed  in  her  hand.     Thus  she  read : 

"  Deakest,  ^nxE : — As  there  is  to  be  a  mail-bag  made 
up  by  the  regiment,  I  claim  the  privilege  of  raising  my 
quota  tov\^ard  filling  its  columns. 

"  We  are  halting  now,  after  a  forced  march  of  thirty 
miles,  on  our  way  to  join  the  main  corps  of  the  West- 
ern Army.  We  are  made  to  feel,  every  step  of  our  pro- 
gress, that  we  are  in  an  enemy's  country,  l^^ot  even  a 
glass  of  lemonade  or  a  basket  of  fruit  do  we  dare  to 
-take  as  gift  or  purchase,  from  fear  of  being  poisoned ; 


124  tut:  nivAL  volunteers;  or, 

and  any  man  straggling  from  the  ranks  does  go  at  2:>eril 
of  funiisliing  sknll  as  football  for  rebel  pastime.  In 
passing  through  woods — luckily  for  us,  the  trees  liere- 
abouts  are  generally  tall,  without  low  In-anches  or  un- 
derbrush— our  advimce-guard  and  flankers  have  to  be 
every  instant  on  the  alert.  In  open,  unobstructed 
plains,  the  cavalry  deploy  for  our  protection  ;  bridges 
Ave  enfilade  with  our  guns,  and  in  passing  through  vil- 
lages, v/hich  we  avoid  when  we  can,  witliout  making 
too  wide  a  circuit,  we  plant  our  heaviest  artillery  in  the 
most  advantageous  positions  for  being  conspicuously 
viewed  by  tlie  villagers.  Some  grow  reckless  under  this 
continued  exposure  to  imminent  danger ;  but  I  never 
looked  so  warily  to  every  step  as  now  that  each  one  may 
be  my  last. 

''  Tell  Mrs.  Burt  that  her  son,  who  marclied  at  my 
left  hand,  gave  me  his  musket  to  carry  wliile  he  ran  for 
a  drink  to  a  brook  which  he  saw  through  the  poplars, 
and  he  has  not  since  been  seen  or  heard  from.  lie  will 
probably  turn  up  in  some  rebel  stronghold. 

'•'  I  send  you  my  address,  the  name  of  the  town  being 
one  which  we  shall,  in  all  human  probability,  reach  in 
a  couple  of  days.  After  that,  I  know  nothing  of  our 
intended  destination,  as  wx  are  not  informed  of  our 
commander's  plans. 

''  I  must  close  now,  as  I  am  only  off  guard  four  hours, 
and  there  is  a  button  to  tighten  on  my  coat,  the  brass 
pieces  on  my  equipments  to  brighten,  even  if  my  gun 
doesn't  need  a  touch  from  emery  paper. 

"  Send  me  some  word  of  cheer,  Minnie ;  and  believe 
that,  at  each  remove,  ^  my  heart  untravelled  fondly  turns 
to  thee.' 

"  Heaven  bless  and  hold  thee  in  most  sacred  keeping. 

"  Yours,  devotedly, 

'-  MOKLAND." 


THE    BLACK   PLUME    RIFLES.  125 

Weary  and  dispirited  as  slie  was,  tliis  letter  inspired 
its  recipient  witlifresli  energj,  and  she  at  once  set  about 
lior  reply,  wliicli  is  here  given  entire  : 


hansted  by  all  the  labors  of  the  day  that  I  thought  no 
ln?^ury  could  be  coiin^arable  to  that  of  resting  my  tired 
iiead  on  my.piiiow  ;  but  you  have  proved  my  mistake 
by  giving  me  the  opportunity  of  communicating  with 
yoa  through  written  channel,  an  opportunity  I  improve 
with  delighted  alacrity.  Xot  that  I  am  complaining  of 
fatigue,  mind  you,  as  I  am  bound  to  you  by  still  closer 
ties  throu^^h  knowledge  that  this  most  glorious  cause  of 
a  country  s  salvation  claims  your  best  powers  as  well  as 
my  own. 

"  You  ask  of  me  some  word  of  cheer.  Hov*^  shall  1 
give  it,  Morland,  when  I  know  not  but  that,  even  as  I 
write,  some  mortal  peril  may  be  lying  in  wait  for  you  ? 
Will  it  cheer  you  to  know  that  I  hold  you  ever  in  fond 
and  faitl:iful  remembrance,  thinking  of  you  not  only 
each  day  but  each  hour,  and  many  times  in  the  hour  ? 
Shall  I  tell  you  that  the  letter  you  stole  time  from  hours 
which  should  have  been  given  to  needed  repose,  to  in- 
dite, is  more  precious  than  gold  of  Oj^hir — more  dearly 
prized  than  gem  from  richest  mine?  Are  you  smiling 
at  my  extravagance  ?  Be  it  so  ;  if  I  can  provoke  you 
to  mirth  I  care  not,  though  it  be  at  my  own  expense  ? 

"  Possibly  it  may  interest  you  to  know  how  my  days 
are  passed.  Mrs.  Stanton,  a  widowed  sister  of  I)r. 
"Waldo,  is  our  principal  directress,  and  a  m.ost  stringent 
disciplinarian.  We  have  each  our  duties  to  be  per- 
fjrmed  at  all  hazards ;  my  position,  it  seems,  is  that  of 
maid-of-all-work,  as  I  turn  my  hand  to  everything,  from 
making-  a  broth  to  stitchino^  a  bandao-e,  or  writino;  a  let- 
ter  lor  some  poor  fellow  who  craves  memorial  from 
some  true  heart  as  do  I  from  one  I  belieye  my  own. 


126  THE    TvIVAL    VOLUXTEERS;    OR, 

"  I  rise  at  five  and  mp.ke  my  toilette,  so  inelaborate 
that  it  is,  perhaps,  not  beyond  dull  masculine  compre- 
hension, so  I  will  describe  its  most  salient  pecnliarities. 
First,  retrenched  skirts  without  the  least  pretense  to 
voluminous  flow  ;  for  in  meeting  each  other  on  the 
stairs,  a  dozen  times  a  minnte,  no  one  desires  to  claim 
exclusive  right  of  way.  Then  comes  a  dress  of  grej 
serge,  which  does  not  "rustle,  and  is  easily  kept  clean. 
jS^ow  comes  the  crowning  abomination  in  the  way  of 
offence  against  good  taste  with  which  Mrs.  Stanton,  in 
the  plenitude  of  her  power,  has  seen  fit;  to  afflict  her 
long-suffering  liandmaidens.  Curls,  for  cooks,  she  deems 
wholly  inadmissible  ;  nets  are  a  pet  aversion  of  hers ; 
so  we  are  reduced  to  the  wretched  alternative  of  wear- 
ing the  most  excruciatingly  nnbecoming  lawn  caps 
envious  malignity  ever  devised.  Well,  I  don't  care, 
since — you  are  not  here  to  see ;  but  with  all  humility 
be  it  written,  earthly  vanities  are  so  far  from  having 
palled  on  my  taste,  that  if  I  should  catch  a  glimpse  of 
you  coming  up  the  linden  walk  in  plain  view,  instead 
of  setting  my  cap  for  you,  I  should  toss  it  into  the  near- 
est coi-ner,  and  resort,  at  once,  to  every  outward  adorn- 
ing that  might  give  me  grace  and  comeliness  in  your 
eyes. 

"What  folly  is  this  I  Candidly,  you  are  disposed  to 
far  over-estimate  me  ;  and  althougli^  it  is  very  flattering 
to  be  exalted  to  a  higher  place  in" your  esteem  than  my 
own  worth  justifles,"truth  is  always  best  and  safest  in 
tlie  end.  1  must  sj^are  you  the  violent  revulsion  you 
would  be  sure  to  experience  if  you  slionld  stumble, 
without  any  preparation  of  previous  warning,  upon  the 
unwelcome  fact  that  the  woman  on  whom  you  had  been 
lavishing  your  heart's  best  riches  had  nothing  but  her 
trutli  and  constancy  to  recommend  her,  and  was  a  very 
ordinary  specimen  of  humanity  after  a^I. 

"  All  this  space,  and  only  my  toilette   completed ! 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  127 

You  have  no  idea  vrliat  a  variety  of  capricious  likes  and 
dislikes,  in  the  way  of  food,  we  have  to  consult  in  com- 
pounding refections  for  tlie  sick  wards.  One  poor  fel- 
low, who  is  wasted  to  a  shadow  vvdth  pulmonary  con- 
sumption, has  lived  on  scraped  sweet  apples  for  a  month ; 
a  second  takes  nothing,  as  his  digestives  lack  the  vigor 
for  attempting  functional  action,  but  the  expressed  juices 
of  meats ;  a  third,  who  is  almost  speechless  with  inci- 
pient laryngeal  paralysis,  can  swallow  nothing  but 
stimulants ;  while  a  fourth  contrives  to  subsist  some- 
how on  narcotics,  soda  and  lemon  juice.  The  pervading 
spirit  of  manly  fortitude  and  resignation  with  which 
tuey  submit  to  the  sufiering  and  deprivation  inseparable 
from  their  lot,  acts  as  effectual  check  to  any  complaints 
in  which  I  might  otherwise  be  inclined  to  indulge. 

"  In  one  respect,  I  have  striven  to  copy  the  example 
of  the  hospital  surgeons,  who,  whatever  their  own  indi- 
vidual trials  and  perplexities,  permit  no  trace  of  them 
to  become  apparent  to  their  patients.  Dr.  Waldo  v.'iil 
perform  the  most  grave  and  critical  operations  in  the 
amputation  room,  and  then  with  air  as  blandly  disen- 
p'ao^ed  as  thou2:h  he  had  inst  risen  from  couch  of  cush- 
ioned  ease,  go  ii"om  cot  to  cot  addressing  to  occupant  of 
eacli  some  cheerful  word  of  soothing  or  encouragement, 
falling  like  gentlest  anodyne  on  spirits  sore  through 
sympathy  with  material  ills. 

'"  i  wished  to  give  you  a  list  of  my  employments 
throughout  the  day,  but  space  fails  me. 

•'  Pray  do  not  expose  yourself  rashly,  for  the  country 
needs  every  one  of  its  brave  defenders,  and  evil  (which 
Heaven  avert)  befalling  you,  woidd  be,  to  me,  as  though 
it  had  fallen  on  myself. 

"  liemembering  how  precious  is  every  assurance  of 
your  continued  Siifety,  do  not  withhold  the  same  irom 


128  THE  EivAL  volunteers;  or, 

Scarcely  more  tliaii  a  week  elapsed  before  she  received 
the  ensuing  response  to  her  epistle : 

'-  My  dkae  Girl  : — I  told  you  once  that,  given  the 
opportunity,  I  should  inevitably  make  a  fool  of  myself, 
i^.ud  as  you  vrere  graciously  pleased  to  furnish  tlie  occa- 
sion, 1  have  attested  my  veracity  by  making  the  most 
of  ir.  Can  you  imagine  a  man  cutdng  up  capers  that 
v.'ould  do  credit  to  a  confirmed  idiot,  and  going  into 
raptures  over  a  mere  sheet  of  paper  covered  with  dain- 
tiest sweej^s  and  curves,  just  because  it  happened  to 
express  some  feelings  of  kindly  interest  in  behalf  of  your 
humble  servant  ?  Of  course,  you  can  conceive  of  no- 
thing so  ineffably  absurd  ;  let  us  have  done  with  such 
puerile  nonsense. 

"  Do  not  expect  anything  in  the  way  of  caligraphy 
from  me,  as  I  am  sitting  on  a  stump,  using  a  tin  plate  as 
writing-desk,  with  the  boom  of  artillery  practice  sound- 
ing in  my  ears. 

'•  We  have  had  a  brush  with  the  enem;r,  whicli  might 
have  been  a  serious  affair  if  it  had  occurred  earlier  in 
the  day,  which  it  would  have  done,  if  our  original  plan 
had  not  been  modilied  by  circu/nstances  I  have  not 
space  to  detail.  The  treachery  of  a  negro  guide,  who 
decoyed  us  into  a  well-planned  ambuscade  (tlie  sort  of 
thing  that  the  insidious  foe  always  does  plan  well,  for  it 
must  be  conceded  the  Southron  is  as  far  ahead  of  ub  in 
subtle  trick  of  strategy,  as  European  southron  has 
shown  himself  over  northern  opponent,  from  the  time 
that  Spanish  diplomacy  outwitted  Briton's  astute  queen 
to  the  present,  when  a  wily  Gallic  hand  directs  the 
moves  of  a  continent's  chess-board),  came  near  resulting 
in  overwhelming  disaster. 

''  It  was  within  an  hour  of  sundown  ;  the  main  body 
of  our  civision  had  safely  passed  a  dangerous  deiile, 
wi.ich  its  baggage  train  vritli  its  convoy  was  about  to 


TUB  BLACK  plu:me  kifles.  129 

enter,  Avlien  from  a  large  cave,  whose  entrance  had  been 
so  artfully  concealed  as  to  have  escaped  the  notice  of 
lynx-eyed  vidette  and  patrol,  poured  forth  the  enemy 
ill  force,  and  after  unmasking  batteries,  gave  us  a  tem- 
pest of  shell  and  canister,  and  swooped  down  upon  us, 

yelling  like  so  many — beg  pardon — d s  incarnate. 

bur  re^'iment  formed  part  of  the  reserve  held  back  in 
case  of  emergency  like  the  present.  We  vrere  ordered 
to  stack  knapsacks  and  prepare  for  immediate  action. 
Tiie  enemy  had  the  advantage  of  us  in  being  fresh,  vrliile 
we  were  spent  with  a  weary  day's  march,  and  liad  eaten 
nothing  since  mid-day.  The  object  of  the  attack  soon 
became  apparent ;  it  was  the  wagon  train  our  assailants 
were  bent  on  capturing ;  the  last  thing  to  lose  in  a 
re2:ijn  where  all  forage  which  could  not  be  removed 
was  destroyed  to  prevent  it  falling  into  our  hands.  We 
fora'ot  there  was  such  a  thing  as  being  hungry  and 
tired,  and  fought  like  tigers ;  not  one  of  us  but  would 
as  soon  have  died  as  seen  our  subsistence  stores  go  to 
the  sustenance  of  those  greedy  cormorants.  The  ene- 
my's guns  were  but  inditferently  served,  or  we  should 
haVe  been  terribly  cut  up.  As  it  was,  many  of  the 
horses  attached  to  the  train  were  shot,  and  if  we  had 
not  had  spare  horses  to  fill  their  places,  our  loss  would 
have  been  irremediable.  I  must  tell  you  the  last  we 
saw  of  our  personal  gear.  A  parcel  of  negroes.  Con- 
federates in  collusion  with  our  false  guide  very  likely, 
had  taken  possession  of  our  knapsacks,  and  were  scat- 
tering about  and  destroying  such  articles  as  did  not  suit 
theirlm  mediate  needs.  One  brawny  son  of  Ethiop  had 
crowned  his  woolly  pate  with  a  bright-colored  fatigue- 
cap,  and  strutted  round  in  great  pomp  and  circumstance, 
clad  in  a  bugler's  scarlet  suit  which  had  tickled  his  bar- 
baric taste. 

"  When  we  had  kept  the  enemy  at  bay  long  enough 
to  give  the  convoy  a  fair  start  in  advance,  you  should 

6* 


180  THE    RIVAL    volunteers;    OR, 

have  seen  us  run,  tlie  cavalry  and  light  artillery  bring 
ing  up  the  rear.  Talk  of  the  double-quick  !  quadruple- 
quick,  and  sextuple-quick  was  all  ihat  saved  us  to  iiglit 
anotlier  day. 

"  I  think  the  climate  must  agree  with  me,  as  I  slept 
on  the  ground  la^tnigli!-,  without  either  blanket  or  over- 
coat, and  feel  no  ill  effects  from  the  exposure  ;  on  the 
contrary,  am  blessed  with  an  appetite  which  is  much 
better  than  comfortable,  considering  the  scantiness  of 
the  rations  doled  out  by  our  commissary. 

"  I  cannot  request  you  to  write  me,  as  I  do  not  know 
where  to  ask  you  to  direct.  You  shall  hear  from  me  as 
soon  as  I  can  remove  this  obstacle  to  our  correspon- 
dence, and  pray  respond  promptly  to 

'*  Yours  most  faithfully, 

'•  MOELAND." 

Several  weeks  passed  before  Minnie's  eyes  were  again 
gladdened  by  sight  of  the  handwriting  which  had  grown 
familiar  through  much  repetition  of  vain  reading.  I 
transcribe  the  missive  which  gave  to  her  eyes  fresh  lus- 
tre, to  her  cheek  an  added  tint  of  bloom  : 

'•'  Carnrosville,  Jan.  20,  1862. 

"  Best  remembered  Feiexd  : — I  have  been  through 
such  an  exhaustive  process  of  labor  and  fatigue  since  last 
I  wrote  you,  that  1  have  scarcely  sufficient  vitality  left 
for  the  mental  effort  of  giving  you  an  account,  even  the 
most  cursory,  of  the  difficulties  we  have  had  to  over- 
come in  reaching  this  place.  Since  the  affair  of  which 
I  Avrote  you  in  my  last,  and  for  which  the  general  of 
the  division  complimented  our  gallantry,  our  regiment 
had  seen  much  diit\^  on  the  rear-guard,  which  has  been 
peculiarly  exposed  to  the  sharp  shooting  of  the  guerillar 
bands  forever  prowling  on  our  ffanks  and  rear.  I  do 
not  know  what  it  is  to  fall  asleep  with  that  sense  of" 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  131 

security  which  is  inciespensable  to  any  repose  worth  the 
name  ;  and  as  a  consequence,  my  shimbers  are  so  dis- 
turbed by  visions  of  attack  and  assault  that  they  do  not 
refresh  me,  and  I  am  v^eary  all  the  time. 

'•We  tool:  this  town  after  a  slight  show  of  resist- 
ance from  the  inhabitants ;  and  I  belong  to  the  de- 
tachment left  to  occupy  it,  as  it  is  of  considerable 
strategic  importance,  owing  to  its  railroad  junction 
affording  us  line  of  communication  ^vith  base  of  sup- 
plies. 

"  The  women  here  belong  to  such  a  species  of  non- 
descript as  I  never  saw  before,  and  hope  never  to  see 
agaiu.  Ignoring  all  the  graces,  they  are  ready  to  aid 
the  fray  by  those  nnderhanded  meaus  which  weak  cun- 
ning suffcrests.  If  they  wish  to  throw  off  the  guards 
with  which  chivalry  protects  them  against  life's  severer 
ills,  let  them  fight  us  on  equal  terms — meet  us  in  fair 
and  honorable  conflict,  as  I,  for  one,  ani  strongly  op- 
posed to  having  mj  head  broken  by  missiles  from  a 
chamber  window,  or  to  being  knocked  down  with  a 
rolling-pin  and  dispatched  v/ith  a  skewer.  When  the 
gentler  sex  proves  false  to  its  benign  mission,  and 
aggravates  instead  of  softening  asperities  quickened  to 
nuwholesome  growth  in  tronblous  times  like  these,  let  it 
expect  an  exceediug  bitter  penalty  for  its  betrayal  of 
sacred  trust.  When  I  look  at  these  fierce  inciters  of 
deadly  strife,  it  is  to  turn,  in  thought,  with  tenfold  ten- 
derness to  one  who  would  gladly  spur  ns  on  to  deeds  of 
high  emprise  in  patriot  struggle ;  but  whose  hand,  bear- 
ing to  us  merciful  healing,  Avill  never  come  armed  with 
rod  of  wrath. 

'-  Do  you  remember  Gustave  Ashmore,  captain  of  our 
company,  and  as  big  a  poltroon  as  ever  breathed  ?  A 
supercilious  fop,  whose  equipments  are  not  likely  to  bs 
tarnished  through  use,  and  whose  chief  military  accom- 
plishment consists  in  shewing  a  clepn  pair  of  heels  to 


132  THE   EIYAL   YOLUXTEEKS  ;    OK, 

tlie  enemy  ;  he  lias  been  promoted  to  a  majorship,  and 
Lis  place  bestowed  on  a  lily-livered  milksop  who  hap- 
pened to  be  well  connected,  and  brought  letters  of 
recommendation  to  our  General  from  inlluential  rela- 
tives at  home.  Well,  I  have  not  been  sparing  of  myself 
in  the  country's  service  ;  I  have  never  fled  from  the 
post  of  duty  because  it  was  the  post  of  danger ;  and  yet, 
if  I  return,  I  fear  I  shall  bring  but  few  laurels  to  lay  at 
your  feet.  I  have  neither  patronage  nor  the  impudence 
needful  to  push  on  my  way  to  advancement,  and  it  is 
sometimes  hard  to  stand  aside  in  the  ranks  and  let  a 
worse  man  step  into  the  honors  he  has  never  earned. 

"  Our  detachment  is  so  small  fur  the  performance  of 
the  duty  assigned  it,  that  we  are  all  overworked.  Our 
labors  vrill  be  lii>;htened  when  we  have  finished  throw- 
ino^  up  a  lort  on  the  hill  overlooking  the  junction. 
"When  I  say  fort,  do  not  imagine  heavy  ramparts  with 
bastions  of  solid  masonry,  for  that  would  give  you  an 
erroneous  idea  of  our  stronghold,  which  comprises  two 
or  three  acres  of  ground,  is  walled  in  by  logs,  with  em- 
bankments of  earth  on  the  inside  reaching  a  little 
higher  than  a  man's  head.  Outside,  a  moat,  fifteen 
feet  deep  by  twelve  in  width,  extends,  or  will  when  com- 
pleted, around  the  structure,  which  is  octagonal  and 
will  look  tolerably  formidable  when  our  thirty-two 
pounders  are  mounted.  If  you  did  but  know  the  labor 
dire  I  have  gone  through  delving  in  this  hard  soil !  My 
hands  have  been  so  blistered  that  I  could  scarcely 
handle  a  musket ;  face  and  ears  are  blistered  too;  for 
tlie  sun  already  runs  high^  imd  I  miss  my  havelock 
s:idly,  as  it  cannot  be  replaced. 

'^  I  fear  this  is  but  a  drowsy  production,  and  well  it 
may  be,  for — pardon  lack  of  gallantry  implied  by  the 
admission — I  have  been  surprised,  off  guard,  by  more 
t'lan  one  nap  since  commencing  the  above.  Send  me 
some  coveted  assurance  of  undiminished  regard,  and  you 


THE   BLACK   PLU^E   EIFLES.  133 

sliall  receive  1:0  lifeless  response.  Xo  one  who  lias  not  ex- 
perienced it,  can  fathom  the  intensity  of  eager  longing 
felt  by  tlie  soldier,  suddenly  y^-renched  from  all  the 
dearly-cherished  associations  of  former  years,  for  some 
expression  of  kindly  interest  from  the  loved  ones  left  be- 
hind.   On  this  hint,  please  write  to  "  Moeland." 

The  reply  to  the  above  ran  as  follows : 

"  St.  TiLvRc's,  Jan.  2G,  1832. 

^-  My  deas  Moeland  : — I  received  your  most  fer- 
vently welcomed  letter  late  last  evening,  and  should 
have  done  myself  the  pleasure  of  replying  at  once,  only 
I  sat  up  until  midnight  making  for  you  this  havelock, 
which,  if  it  but  give  you  in  the  receiving  a  tithe  of  the 
pleasure  it  has  given  mo  in  the  making — thinking  con- 
stantly for  whom  I  wrought — will  proVe,  humble  as  it 
is,  one  of  the  good  gifts,  blessing  alike  donor  and  reci- 
pient. 

"Of  that  part  of  your  letter  which  most  deeply 
moved  me  I  will  first  speak.  Do  not  be  depressed, 
Morland,  because  those  less  deserving  of  promodon 
than  yourself  are  preferred  over  you.  Biography 
teaches  us  that  few  indeed  of  the  really  wise  and  de- 
serving enter,  during  this  life,  into  the  full  joy  of  their 
labors.  We  can  do  our  very  best  in  the  way  of  effort, 
but,  best  beloved,  we  cannot  control  results.  The 
country,  torn  and  bleeding  throu^■h  fiercely-contending 
factions,  claims  the  best  and  noblest  manhood  of  her 
eons  ill  her  defence :  and  yours,  I  am  sure,  she  will  not 
claim  in  vain,  whether  you  labor  with  or  without  the 
appreciation  so  dear  to  every  generous  heart.  The 
army  must  have  men  as  well  as  officers  ;  commanded 
as  well  as  commanders.  What  would  a  building  be 
good  for  that  vras  made  of  turret  and  tower,  of  balfry 
and  spire,  of  peak  and  pinuaclcj  v/ithout  a  substi'ucture 


cravci 

glittor..x3 


134  TUT.    EIVAL    V0LUNTEF.E3  ;    OH 

acjeqiiate  to  the  support  of  its  top-licavj  petensions. 
Better  a  true  soldier,  by  all  odds,  with  garments  soiled 
and  frayed  in  obedience  to  duty's  call,  than  the  titled 
1  Vho  keeps  his  yelyet  facings  spotless,  and  his 
ing  blade  stainless  in  its  scabbard,  while  richly 
earning  a  coward's  fate. 

"  You  speak  of  winning  laurels  to  lay  at  my  feet, 
rather  crown  witli  laurels  of  noble,  persistent  endeavor 
tlie  country's  thorn-pressed  brow,  that  we  may  the 
sooner  rejoice  in  her  restoration  to  peace  and  ours  to 
each  other.  Come  back  to  me  with  integrity  unim- 
peached,  unimpeacliable,  and  I  ask  no  more.  I  speak 
strongly  on  this  point,  because  when  I  was  all  adrift  on 
the  surging  sea  of  doubt  and  uncertainty,  when  through 
one  man's  deceit  I  grew  skeptical  of  others'  truth  and 
othei-s'  sincerity,  it  was  you  who  gave  me  back  the 
blessed  boon  of  renewed  trust  in  human  goodness ;  a 
boon  of  which  no  hand  saye  yours  can  deprive  me — 
which  calamity.  Heaven  in  its  mercy  avert. 

"  I  cannot  write  more,  as  the  clock  is  striking  five, 
and  duties  claim  every  instant  of  my  time  throughout 
the  day. 

'•  Whatever  neglect  you  may  experience  from  other 
sources,  rest  assured  that  you  will  have  none  to  com- 
plain of  from  ''  Yours  evermore, 

"  MUS'IS'IE." 

With  a  lighter  heart  than  she  had  known  for  weeks, 
the  writer  of  the  above  set  about  the  performance  of  her 
daily  tasks,  and  more  than  one  brow,  corrugated  with 
tense  lines  of  pain,  smoothed  beneath  her  speaking 
glance  of  earnest  sympathy.  Isow  that  her  betrothed 
had  reached  a  comparatively  permanent  place  of  des- 
tination, whence  she  could  obtain  frequent  intelligence 
of  his  movements,  her  apprehensions  on  his  account  had 
gi-eatly  Gubsided. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLE5.  135 

"  In  a  week,  at  farthest,  I  shall  hear  from  him  again," 
Bhesaid  to  herself,  counting  the  intervening  days  as 
the  J,  one  by  on.e,  slipped  past,  bringing  nearer  the 
period  terminating  this  fond  anticipation — fond  but  fal- 
lacious, as  ten  days  went  by  without  bringing  her  a  line 
from  one  wliose  prolonged  silence  began  to  excite  her 
keenest  anxiety.  On  the  fourteenth  day  from  the  date 
of  her  last  epistle,  she  partially  relieved  her  intolerable 
suspense  by  penning  and  dispatching  the  subjoined  : 

''My  deapc  Morla^'d: — Do,  I  entreat  of  you,  from 
motives  of  compassion,  if  none  other,  find  some  means 
of  conveying  to  me  the  assurance  that  you  still  remain 
unharmed ;  and,  if  this  be  not  so,  pray  let  me  know  the 
worst  I  have  to  fear  for  you.  Are  you  wounded  ?  then 
you  must  have  some  comrade  near  v/ho  will  mercifully 
tell  me  to  what  extent,  thus  giving  me  something 
tangible  on  which  to  wreak  my  ceaseless  apprehensions, 
and  relieving  me  from  these  terrible  phantoms  imagina- 
tion keeps  conjuring  up.  Can  it  be  possible  that  fancy 
is  playing  me  a  trick? — that  my  nerves  have  lost  tone 
and  impose  on  my  credulity  but  fah^e  presentments  of 
V\'hat  seems  so  real? — or,  is  this  pale,  indistinct  vision, 
that  forever  haunts  me,  ^waking  or  sleeping,  of  one 
stricken  down  in  life's  early  flush,  sorrowing,  suiiering, 
deserted,  something  of  graver  import  than  the  baseless 
fabric  of  a  dream?  Am  I  clairvoyant,  and,  through 
some  subtle  sj^iritual  intercommunion,  has  your  misery, 
in  reflex  form,  become  my  own  ? 

"  Away,  idle  terrors  !  You  told  me,  Morland,  that 
your  powers  of  endurance  vrero  overtaxed  ;  and  they 
have  failed  at  last — nothing  worse.  You  are  worn  out, 
and  need  rest ;  that  is  aU.  You  have  so  exhausted  your 
besi:  .energies  in  patriotic  service  that  your  nerveless 
hand  has  not  strength  to  respond  to  friendly  call.  To 
the  comrade  who  gives  yon  kindly  tendance  you  will 


136  THE   niTAL   TOLU^'TEEnS  ;    OR, 

not  delegate  the  task  you  will  soon  be  able  to  undertake 
yourself.  You  can  no  more  write  me  by  proxy  than  I, 
thus  circumstanced,  could  thus  write  you.  I  will  mode- 
rate my  request ;  you  are  not  to  write  me  a  letter,  if  it 
would  cost  you  wearisome  effort,  but  just  write  my  name 
on  this  envelope  I  inclose  and  return  it  to  me  by 
mail.  The  mere  sight  of  the  familiar  characters,  traced 
by  your  own  pen,  would  restore  me  to  fresh  life  and 
happiness. 

"  Do   not   delay,    Morland,   for   you   know   not  the 
wretchedness  your  unexplained  silence  costs — 

"  Minnie." 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

K  E  W  S  . 

The  faint  glimmer  of  hope  with  which  Minnie  awaited 
a  reply  to  her  letter  was  doomed  to  fade  in  disappoint- 
ment, as  no  reply  ever  came.  With  a  feverish  restless- 
ness, she  hurried  from  one  task  to  another,  striving  to 
bury  recollection  in  a  ceaseless  round  of  employment. 
ISTever  had  her  fingers  been  more  deftly  nimble,  or  her 
step  more  light,  than  now  when  her  heart  was  like  lead 
in  her  bosom. 

One  final  resort,  an  appeal  for  information  to  the 
captain  of  the  company  in  which  Morhind  had  enlisted, 
remained  unto  her ;  and  to  this  she  had  recourse,  writing 
the  word  ''  urgent,"  in  conspicuous  capitals  on  the  en- 
velope inclosing  her  m.issive. 

To  this,  after  a  tedious  period  of  expectancy,  she  re- 
ceived the  following  brief  reply  : 


THE    BLACK    PLL.ME    KIFLES.  137 

'•Captain  Briscom  was  killed  at  the  late  severe  en- 
gagement at  Eover's  Landiniv,  fortv  miles  south  of  this 
Pi^'i^-e.  '•Respectfully, 

'^A.  L.Clyde, 
"  Secretary  of  Division. ^^ 

This  announcement  Minnie  read  with  blurred  vision 
ii  the  caj)tain  had  taken  part  in  the  conflict,  his  com- 
pany, ot  course,  had  shared  its  dano;ers.  After  protracted 
and  painful  deliberation,  she  addressed  a  few  concisely 
worded  inquiries  to  the  secretary  who  had  already 
oohged  her  by  intelligence  conveved  in  the  above  note 
regardnig  the  losses  sustained  by  Company  B.  In  reply' 
she  was  informed  that  it  had''  suffered  severely,  only 
tliirtj-tln-ee  of  its  members  being  fit  for  active  service. 
Ihe  neld,  unfortunately,  had  been  left  in  possession 
ol  the  enemy,  our  wounded  being  brouodit  off  next  day 
under  a  flag  of  truce.  Morland  EUsmead's  name  was 
not  amongst  these,  neither  was  it  to  be  found  in  any 
oifaciai  report. 

Tnis  communication,  furnisliing  particulars  so  scant 
yet  so  cruelly  suggestive,  fell  from  the  reader's  tremhlino- 
hand,  vrhde  her  features  hardened  into  a  look  of  rio-jd 
despair.  She  did  not  think  or  reason,  remaining  duiiib 
in  attitude  bent  and  motionless,  beneath  the  blow  that 
had  stricken  her. 

'•  Has  anything  gone  wrong  with  you?"  asked  ]Mrs. 
btanton,  crossmg  to  the  corner  of  the  kitchen  where 
jiiinnie  sat. 

For  answer,  she  picked  up  the  letter  she  had  dropped 
and  handed  it  to  her  questioner. 

"  It  seems  from  this  that  none  but  the  dead  were  left 
on  the  battle-field,^'-  remarked  Mrs.  Stanton,  as  she 
nnished  the  perusal  of  the  note,  in  what,  to  her  com- 
panion, seemed  a  cold,  unfeeling  tone :  "  and  \i  naturally 
follows  that" "^ 


138  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

"  Pray,  do  not  go  on,-'  Minnie  tremulously  implored, 
"do  not  frame  it  into  words  ;  it  may  not  be  so  bad  as 
our  fears  make  it." 

"  Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  let  me  go  away  where  I  can  be  quite  by  my- 
self— away  up  to  the  closet  in  tiie  attic,  where  I  can  be 
alone — all,  sole  alone." 

"But.  my  poor  child,  you  know  ]iow  much,  with  all 
these  fresh  arrivals,  we  need  3-our  help." 

"  I  know  it,  Mrs.  Stanton ;  but  you  must  give  me  a 
little  time  to  still  this  heavy  pain  in  my  head — this 
heavier  ache  at  my  heart.  Heaven  forgive  me!  how 
shall  I  again  learn  to  labor  with  zeal  in  a  cause  trebly 
dear  because  lie  was  Avith  it,  heart  and  soul  ?" 

In  -using  the  past  tense,  the  speaker  had  unwittingly 
framed  into  words  the  burden  of  her  grief.  Does  not 
the  woe-fraught  cry,  "He  was,  and  is  no- more!"  form 
sad,  md  refrain  to  all  our  national  lyrics  now  ! 

"  Take  your  own  time  ;  we  will  get  along  without  you 
until  you  have  a  little  recovered  from  the" shock  of  this 
sudden  news.  Go ;  and  come  back  as  soon  as  vou  arc 
able." 

As  Minnie  crept  up  the  front  staircase,  the  light, 
laughing  tones  of  a  couple  of  visitors,  relatives  to  a  con- 
valescing patient,  floated  dovrn  to  her  from  the  landing. 
What  had  she  to  do  with  mirth?  The  sounds  smote  on 
her  ear  like  those  of  cruel  mockery.  She  retraced  her 
steps,  gaining  her  liavcn  of  refuge  by  a  back  stairway. 
Closing  the  door  behind  her,  she  turned  the  large  wooden 
button  barring  outer  entrance.  Her  chosen  place  of  re- 
treat might  have  been  six  feet  square ;  on  one  side  were 
piled  promiscuously  together  rolls  of  bandage,  splints, 
nannel  wrappers,  and  loose  quilted  slippers.  Making 
for  herself  a  place  to  sit  down  amongst  all  this  sick-room 
paraphernalia,  and  crossing  her  arms  over  a  package  of 
old  linen,  she  bent  her  throbbing  head  thereupon.     If 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  139 

shetliouglit  at  all,  it  was  in  disjointed,  desultory  fashion, 
expressing  itself  in  broken,  ejacnlatorj  phrase,  as 
thus — 

''  Has  all  the  cream  of  my  life  gone  so  soon  ?  and  is 
the  rest  to  be  duty — only  duty  ?  I  can  bear  it,  or  it 
would  not  be  sent  {  but  life  seems  long  to  look  forward 
to — ^veariiy,  drearily  long.  You  were  always  true, 
Morland ;  you  are  true  still.  Better  eyen  this  than  to 
know  you  false ;  better  to  lose  you  for  this  life  than  to 
loss  you  forever.  If  you  are  not  mine  for  this  present 
time,  you  are  mine  for  all  time  to  come.  You  have 
earned  your  release ;  I  will  be  patient  in  yr ell-doing 
until  mine  is  also  earned  J' 

The  sun  went  down  on  her  grief,  and  still  she  sat  mo- 
tionless, her  head  bowed  on  her  arms.  There  was  a  tap 
at  the  door. 

''  Yf  ho  is  it  ?"  she  asked. 

"It  is  I,  Mrs.  Stanton.     Aren't  you  coming  down?" 

'•  ]^ot  now.  Give  me  until  to-morrow  morning, 
please." 

"Bat  you  are  not  going  to  sleep  in  this  uncomfortable 
place  V  ^ 

"  Isot  to  sleep.  I  only  wish  to  remain  where  I  am 
sure  of  being  undisturbed." 

'•  Shall  I  send  you  up  a  cup  of  tea  ?" 

"  You  are  yery  kind  ;  bat  I  wish  for  nothing." 

"^oL  even  for  a  lio-ht  ?" 


"  TsTot  even  for  that,  I  thank 


Mrs.  Stanton  went  softly  away.  On  the  stairs  she  met 
her  brother,  and  stopped  liim  to  say  : 

"  Minnie  Brandon  Jias  received  news  of  the  probable 
death  of  the  young  man  to  yvdiom  she  was  engaged.  She 
takes  it  so  deeply  to  heart  that  I  fear  she  will  make  her- 
self ill,  and  we  cannot  spare  her  just  now." 

"  0/  course  we  can't :  she  can  turn  her  hand  to  any- 
thing, and  is  never  tired  or  out  of  sorts ;  I  will  attend  to 


140  THE    KIVAL    VOLUXTHEKS;    OR, 

lier  case  in  the  morning.  Send  me  the  poppy-leaf  cat- 
aplasm as  soon  as  it  is  prepared." 

The  honr  of  midnight  found  Minnie  sitting  upright  on 
her  unique  couch,  her  eyes  gazing  blankly  inio  space, 
not^  even  noling  tlie  pitchy  darkness  of  her  little  cell, 
vrhich  was  lighted  only  by  a  pane  of  glass  over  the 
door. 

"  His  name  has  been  mentioned  in  no  official  report," 
she  said  to  herself;  ''  and  no  news  is  not  necessarily  bad 
news.  Tiiere  are  a  thousand  chances  in  his  favor.  I 
did  bnt  jump  at  a  rash  conclusion  when  I  so  hastily  gave 
him  up  as  lost.  He  may  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  and  there  is*^  the  hope  of  his  being  released 
on  parole,  if  he  would  accept  release  on  such  terms,  or 
of  his  being  exchanged.  He  may  have  been  wounded, 
and  have  crawled  away  to  some  safe  place  of  shelter. 
If  I  could  but  go  to  him,  and  give  him  the  kindly  tend- 
ance he  needs  ;  it  may  not  be.  It  is  enough  for  me  to 
know  that  he  still  lives.  My  consciousness  cannot  thus 
mock  me  with  vain  lono-inirs.  This  sweet,  consolinic 
presence  conies  as  precious  solace  in  my  hour  of  sore 
trial — came  of  itself;  I  did  not  seek  it, 'and  it  is  only 
good  gifts  that  come  freely,  like  heaven's  descending 
dews.  Ko,  Morland ;  it  is  not  as  of  one  gone  to  his 
long,  last  rest,  that  I  think  of  you,  bnt  as  of  one  suffer- 
ing ills  I  am  powerless  to  aveit.  You  must  endure  ;  I 
must  labor  and  strive  in  the  way  wherein  it  is  appointed 
unto  me  to  walk.  I  will  not  sit  me  down  in  idle  repin- 
ing over  what  I  cannot  alleviate.  I  will  seek,  through 
rest,  to  gain  strength  for  the  morrow's  duties." 

Contrary  to  her  anticipations,  sleep  steeped  lier  senses 
in  balmy  repose,  and  she  rose  calm  and  refreshed  at 
her  usual  hour.  There  was  a  large  accession  of  inmates 
to  the  hospital ;  and  in  incessant  occupation  with  lancet 
and  trephine,  splint  and  band,  Dr.  AValdo  forgot  the 
-ise  which  no  louo-er  needed  his  care.     She  was  a  little 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    IIIFLES.  141 

absent-minded,  at  times,  v/ith  the  air  of  one  searcliing 
vainly  for  tlie  nnseen  and  the  nnreal — the  impalpable 
something  which  just  escaped  hei*  vision  ;  bnt  aside 
from  this,  she  went  bravely  on,  with  unfaltering  step, 
in  the  course  she  had  marked  out  for  herself.  No  smile 
ever  came  to  lier  Jips,  but  she  was  blessed  with  tliat 
calm  peace  and  self-approval  which  is  the  best  substi- 
tute for  happiness.  It  v/as  only  at  the  hour  for  the  post- 
boy's arrival  that  she  became  uneasy  and  restless.  It 
was  hard  to  receive,  as  repeated  reply  to  her^eager  in- 
quiries, "ISothing  to-day  for  you,  Miss."  Ker  spirit 
almost  fainted  within  her  as  she  occasionally  reflected 
that  the  most  dearly  cherished  hope  of  her  life  had  no 
foundation  more  stable  than  that  afforded  by  her  ovai 
settled  convictions. 

Early  springtime  came,  spreading  carpet  of  living 
green  on  prairie  slope  and  sunny  vale,  and  garlanding 
with  delicate  bloom  the  nectarine  and  the  pink  rareripe. 
Bees  hummed  in  the  shrubs,  birds  sang  on  the  trees,  but 
to  Minnie  came  sound  more  welcome,  sight  more  joyous 
than  rarest  tone  or  sweetest  flower.  It  was  with  a  cry 
of  rapturous  delight  that  she  recognized  the  handwriting 
on  the  package  handed  her  by  the  post-boy.  In  that  in- 
stant's joy  was  obliterated  every  trace  of  the  long  hours 
of  tedious  waiting  that  had  preceded  it. 

She  felt  no  immediate  desire  to  ascertain  the  contents 
of  the  little  package  that,  like  an  enchanted  wand,  had, 
by  one  wave,  brushed  away  the  lowering  clouds  that 
threatened  to  darken  all  her  future.  It  w^as  enough  for 
her  to  know  that  he  was  alive  and  well ;  yes,  well,  for  no 
feeble,  nerveless  hand  ever  traced  those  bold,  Arm  slopes 
and  curves  on  which  she  gazed. 

A  one-armed  soldier  waited  for  her  to  write  a  letter 
at  his  dictation.  He  was  a  sturdy  backwoodsman,  rough 
but  honest.  She  sat  down  at  the  small  table  beside  his 
cot  and  arranged  pen,  ink  and  paper. 


14:2  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

"  Now,  Mr.  Hobson,  I  ain  ready  to  commence.  What 
shall  I  write?'' 

"  Wal,  I  reckon,  yon  may  as  well  tote  in  my  love 
and  respects  stronsj ;  a  whole  mst  on  'em  won't  do  no 
harm. 

'•But  wouldn't  it  be  better  to  let  that  come  in  toward 
the  clos3  of  the  letter  V 

•••  Mebbe  so  ;  I  don't  care  where  yon  bring  it  in,  if  you 
only  do  it  up  brown,  and  enough  of  it.  Now  I'll  begin 
again.  You  tell  Polly  that  taint  no  use  grumbling  at 
the  ways  o'  Pr-jvidence — she's  kind  o'  riled  up  when 
things  get  into  a  snarl,  is  Polly  ;  and  files  into  raving, 
distracted  hy-ster-ics,  which  ain't  to  be  wondered  at, 
seiin'  a  woman  ain't  a  reasonin'  creetur,  though  as  good- 
hearted  as  ever  drew  the  breath  o'  life,  and  no  mure  ac- 
countable for  a  fit  of  the  tantrums  than  a  nanny-goat 
for  butting  at  a  brier-bush  and  gnawing  the  bark  oft'  my 
best  garden  sweetin',  for  natnr'  made  'em  so — and  it's 
what  I  tole  'er  an'  tole  'er  again,  line  upon  line,  and  pre- 
cept upon  precept,  that  fall  that  the  murrain  got  afoul 
of  tiie  sheep,  and  the  cattle  distemper  was  lively,  and 
kicking  Bill  backed  down  the  trap-door  that  shiftless 
Dave  had  left  open  at  the  back  of  his  stall,  into  the  pig- 
pen, and  hung  himself  by  the  neck  till  he  was  stone 
dead ;  and  little  Cyrus  got  a  bean  up  his  nose ;  and 
baby  crawled  into  the  sink-spout  and  nigh  about  got 
choked  to  death;  an',  to  cap  tiie  apax,  mumps,  measles 
and  shakes  lit  on  all  the  young  ones  at  once,  and  turned 
our  log  sharjty  into  a  regular  hospital.  You  can't  blame 
Polly,  can  yoa  now?  fort'.iinking  that  bedlam  had  broke 
loose  and  was  bent  on  raising  Cain  about  our  cl3arin'." 

"  Your  good  wife  seems  to  have  been  subjected  to  heavy 
trials;  but  you  surely  do  not  wish  me  to  repeat  to  her 
what  must  already  be  familiar  to  her  recollection." 

"  Jerusalem  !  I  should  hope  not.  Just  tell  the  dear 
soul  not  to  be  down  in  the  mouth  and  work  herself  into 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  143 

an  awful  stew,  but  to  keep  a  stiff  upper  lip,  for  we  ain't 
in  so  bad  a  kittle  of  fish  as  manj  a  likely  cliap  bas  fell 
into — things  might  be  worse,  a  master  sight  worse." 

"  May  I  ask  to  what  things  you  specially  refer  ?" 

'"  I  sliouldn't  think  a  body  need  to  ask  that,  when  it's 
plain  to  see  that  I  have  got  to  wear  one  empty  frock- 
sleeve  all  tlie  rest  of  my  days." 

"  Has  Ivirs.  ilobson  been  informed  of  this  misfor- 
tune r' 

'•  It  stands  to  reason  that  she  liaint  v/hen  I  have  to 
make  my  mark  every  time  I  sign  my  name,  and  don't 
know  one  letter  from  t'other.  Tiiis  is  the  very  first  time 
I've  got  a  chance  to  send  a  vrord  home,  though  it's  many 
I  should  have  liked  to  send." 

"  Xo  doubt  of  it.  I  think  I  can  send  the  word  you 
wish  spoken  now." 

She  bent  over  the  table,  wrote  for  a  few  minutes 
rapidly,  then  read  aloud  to  him  wdiat  she  had  written. 

On  finishing  the  perusal,  she  failed  of  the  approving 
look  she  had  tiiought  to  w^in. 

''You  are  not  pleased  wdtli  my  vray  of  stating  the 
case,"  she  said,  questioningly. 

'•  Oil,  it  isn't  that ;  but  you  have  worded  it  so  cruel 
genteel  that,  I  reckon,  Polly  won't  never  know  what  you 
are  drivin'  at.  You  see,  we  are  plain,  homespun  folks  ; 
and  she  likes  my  homely  words,  because  she  is  used  to 
'em,  an'  never  had  'em  used  to  hurt  her,  better  than  the 
newfangledest  ones  you  could  scaix3  up,  no  matter  how 
'cute  they  was." 

"  She  shall  have  your  very  words,  Mr.  Hobson. 
"What  next  do  you  wish  said  ?" 

'•  Tell  her  it  was  my  left  arm  that  was  shot  away,  and 

my  right  is  as  sound  as  a  drum ;  and  don't  forget  to 

mention  that  though  I  got  an  ugly  wipe  across  the  face, 

not  one  of  the  pesky  varmints  can  boast  of  havin'  hit 

-Silas  Hobson  in  the  back.     Matters  ain't  so  bad  as  they 


1-14  THE  iiivAL  voi.i'nti:i:rs  ;  oi?, 

might  be,. by  a  long  chalk;  Tin  vrortb  a  dozen  dead 
men  yet ;  tor  my  eyesight  is  tip-top  yet,  an'  I  can  bito 
off  a  cartridge  with  the  best  on  'em.  Ask  Jier  what 
signifies  tlie  loss  of  an  arm,  wben  our  next-door  neigh- 
bur,  llolf  Karl,  bad  bis  bead  blew  off  witb  a  liowitzei", 
and  poor  Gretscben  will  never  get  a  hearty  grip  from 
bis  strong  band  agin.'' 

"  Wait  nniil  I  iinish  wbat  you  have  already  told  me," 
said  Minnie,  her  band  gliding  over  the  paper ;  adding 
in  a  few  minntes,  "  Xow  I  am  ready  for  wbat  you  bave 
to  say." 

'-  Perbaps  yon  would  tbink  it  sounded  Hat  if  1  was  to 
say  right  out  wbat  was  in  my  thoughts." 

'vKever  mind  wbat  /  tliink  ;  it  is  to  tbose  wbo  will 
be  tliankful  to  bave  your  real  tbougbts  that  you  are 
v\-riting,  not  to  me." 

'*  Tbat  is  so  ;  and  here  goes.  Tell  Polly  Pve  forded 
no  end  of  water-courses  sence  Pve  been  a-sogering,  but 
Pd  give  more  for  one  look  at  Pinfisli  brook  witli  the 
water-wheel  I  wbittled  out  for  our  Cy.  tban  for  all  tbe 
mill  privileges  on  the  wbole  of  'em.  Pd  rutlier  see  one 
of  the  stuntedest  of  our  witcb-bazels  tban  a  wbole  woods 
full  of  tbe  tallest  kind  of  bawtborn,  hickory  and  yellow- 
wood  tree.  And  come  to  women,  Pve  seen  'em  in  their 
silks  and  satins  tbat  would  coax  a  man's  secrets  ont  of 
liim,  like  Delilab  of  old,  and  give  bim  up  to  the  Philis- 
tines witbout  no  more  ado.  -  If  handsome  is  as  band- 
some  does,  tben  my  bomespun  Polly  is  tbe  best  of  the 
lot ;  and  you  tell  her  so,  witb  my  lovin'  duty  and  ever- 
lastin'  respects.  You  ain't  laugbin'  at  me,  be  yon, 
young  woman  ?" 

''•  L)id  yo!i  tbink  I  could  be  so  beartless.  sir,  wben  I 
am  writing  wbat  your  dear  ones  at  bome  will  be  proud 
and  glad  to  know,  tbat,  in  absence,  you  bold  tbem  in 
constant  and  steadfast  remembrance  ?" 

"  That's  tbe  talk ;  I  sbouldn't  mind  a  tcucb  or  two 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    niFLES.  145 

of  that  kind  o'  swectnin',  jest  to  top  off-  with,  when 
you've  stowed  away  all  the  hearty  Yicliials." 

The  missive  was  completed,  at  last,  entirely  to  the 
satisfaction  of  its  projector. 

It  was  late  when  Minnie  retired  to  the  closet  she  had, 
throiigli  chaim  of  prior  occupancy,  appropriated  as  dor- 
mitory, by  ti-ansferring  thereto  the  husk  mattress  which 
had  been  hers  in  the  crowded  sleeping- ward  hitherto 
shared  with  lier  companions.  It  was  late,  as  I  said,  but 
even  had  night  merged  in  the  "  wee  sma'  hours  beyant 
the  twal,"  she  wouid  not  longer  have  delayed  an  exami- 
nation of  the  precious  package  whose  receipt  had  given 
a  fresh  tinge  to  her  cheek,  fresh  inipulse  to  languid 
motive,  and  renewed  vigor  to  her  entire  being.  *The 
removal  of  the  outer  wrapping  disclosed  to  her  view 
one  of  those  little,  closely-ruled  books,  in  water-proof 
binding,  and  provided  with  rubber  pencil-case,  soldiers 
sometimes  use  in  keeping  their  accounts.  Well  filled 
was  the  diminutive  volume — a  manuscript  duodecimo 
written  for  no  eye  save  hers.  She  read,  or  rather 
devoured,  the  pages. 

"  Laurenstein  IlEiGnTS,  Mar.  6. 

*'  Absent  tet  ever  with  me  : — ISTow  that  I  can  raise 
my  head  from  the  pillow,  which  is  a  luxury  I  once 
feared  it  would  never  again  be  mine  to  enjoy,  I  will 
expend  any  extra  strength  I  can  spare,  in  recounting  to 
one  who  lives  in  my  dreams,  waking  and  sleeping,  at 
morn  and  noon  and  even,  the  means  which  brought  me 
to  this  comfortable  retreat. 

"  You  may  remember  my  telling  you,  the  last  tim3  I 
wrote,  that  1  was  almost  worn  out  with  using  pick  and 
spade,  a  kind  of  labor  to  which  I  was  wholly  unaccas- 
tomed.  First  my  hands  were  blistered,  then  raw,  and 
after  taking  cold  in  them,  painfully  inflamed.  I  did 
well  enough  till  my  api)etite  gave  out,  and  then  work 

7 


146  THE    KIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

was  a  weariness  to  body  and  spirit,  using  up  the  tissues 
wliicli  a  prudent  soldier,  beyond  all  other  men,  should 
hold  back  as  reserve,  in  case  of  sudden  onslaught  from 
that  ever-vigilant  foe  of  camp  life,  disease,  or  to  repair 
any  unexpected  drain  on  the  vital  energies,  liable  at 
any  moment  to  occur.  However,  I  toiled  on  with  right 
good  will,  cheering  myself  with  the  thought  that  the 
moat  was  nearly  comiDlcted  and  then  I  could  rest,  for  it 
would  only  be  a  case  of  emergency  that  would  compel 
me  to  shoulder  arms  with  my  swollen  and  bandaged 
hands.  That  emergency  came.  We  were  supplied  with 
two  days'  rations  and  marched  over  the  rear  bridge  of 
tha  fort  at  midnight,  that  the  villagers  might  not  sus- 
pect our  departure.  Of  our  place  of  destination  I  was 
profoundly  ignorant ;  a  soldier  obeys  orders,  but  asks  no 
questions. 

"  My  musket  I  slung  over  my  shoulders,  by  permis- 
sion, as  I  could  not  grasp  its  stock  with  my  sore  and 
stiffened  fingers.  Had  it  not  been  for  our  frequent  halts, 
I  must  have  sunk  from  exhaustion.  As  it  was,  flashes 
of  heat  darted  through  my  veins,  succeeded  by  cold, 
shivering  chills.  An  irritability  for  which  I  could  not 
account  took  23ossession  of  me  ;  a  parching  thirst  that 
would  not  be  quenched,  though  I  filled  and  emptied  ray 
canteen  at  every  brook  we  crossed,  tormented  me. 

"  When  the  sun  came  out,  I  was  ready  to  drop  be- 
neath its  scorching  rays  that  made  me  feel  like  a  wilted 
weed.  All  day  long,  save  during  brief  periods  of  rest, 
we  marched  on.  I  longed. for  the  going  down  of  the 
sun  tliat  I  might  throw  o-ff  the  grievous  burden  of  gun 
and  haversack,  while  the  others  ate  their  hard  bread  for 
supper.  Xature,  at  last,  would  endure  no  longer ;  the 
way  was  uneven,  I  lost  my  footing  and  fell  to  the 
ground  unable  to  rise  again,  A  mist  was  before  my 
eyes  for  a  few  minutes,  and  when  it  cleared  away,  one 
of  my  comrades,  who  had  dragged  me  to  a  tree  and 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  147 

leaned  nic  against  it,  was  pouring  water  on  my  head. 
He  lianded  me  a  ticket  on  which  was  written ; 

"'The  hearer  has  my  permission  to  fall  out  of  the 
ranks,  he  heing  nnahle  to  proceed  with  the  regiment. 
'' '  E.  H.  GiLMAx,  Captain  of  Company  B^ 

"  So  I  was  left  alone,  at  the  edge  of  a  dark  pine 
forest,  where  I  couldn't  help  thinking  there  was  much 
probahiiity  that  my  bones  might  bleach.  I  crawled  into 
the  shade  of  a  clump  of  chinquapin,  whose  dry  rustling 
leaves  would,  in  a  measure,  screen  me  from  the  obser- 
vation of  passers-by.  There  I  lay,  helpless  and  still,  not 
sleeping,  but  in  a  dull,  heavy  stupor  from  which  nothing 
aroused  me.  That  protracted  lethargy,  during  which  I 
scarcely  felt  or  thought,  was  a  mercy,  I  am  sure  ;  for  it 
prevented  my  dwelUng  on  the  deplorable  condition  in 
which  I  found  myself.  My  feet  were  in  as  bad  a  state 
as  my  hands,  owing  to  my  long  march  in  boots  whose 
inner  soles  were  made  of  an  apology  for  leather,  worked 
up  from  odds  and  ends  of  the  same  reduced  to  pulp  and 
passed  between  rollers,  being  thus  pressed  into  sheets, 
ht  companions  for  the  shoddy  sometimes  imposed  upon 
unwary  contractors.  With  hands  inflamed,  feet  ulcer- 
ated, and  fever  raging  in  my  veins,  you  will  see  that  my 
prospects  of  escape  Avere  not  flattering.  Fortunately  I 
was  blessed  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  cold  water  from 
a  spring  in  the  rocks.  For  a  time,  I  needed  nothing 
more. 

"  In  a  few  days  the  fever  exhausted  itself ;  and  then 
I  needed  those  little  acts  of  care  and  kindness  so  indis- 
pensable to  the  recovery  of  the  sick.  In  the  full  strength 
of  vigorous  health,  one  may  be  self-reliant,  self-sus- 
tained ;  but  when  prostrate  by  weakness,  one  craves 
kindly  tendance  from  other  hands,  fi-iendly  tones  from 
other  lips,  and  gentle  looks  from  other  eyes.  It  was  a 
burdensome  efl'ort  for  me  to  fill  my  canteen  from  the 


148  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

spring,  and  soak  in  a  tin  cnp  the  bit  of  Lard  bread 
which  was  all  tlic  food  I  took,  or  had  to  take. 

''  Do  you  remember  how  little  Paul  Dombey  nsed  to 
try  and  make  out  what  the  waters  were  saying  as  they 
glided  out  from  the  sliadows  of  the  dead  past,  and  hur- 
ried alono;,  Avith  many-voiced  murmur,  to  the  shadows 
of  the  unknown  future  ?  Something  of  that  sort  I  expe- 
rienced as  I  lay  on  my  couch  of  leaves  in  the  sombre 
shade  of  that  dim  old  wood.  My  brain,  as  matter  of 
course,  shared  the  general  prostration  of  my  entire  sys- 
teui,  and  if  it  conveyed  to  my  spiritual  being  impres- 
sions vague,  shadowy  and  unreal,  was  hardly  to  be  held 
accountable,  as  it  would  have  been  under  more  normal 
influences.  It  was  the  voice  of  the  wind  in  the  solitary 
pines  to  which  I  hearkened,  in  changeful  mood,  as  its 
tones  soothed  me  to  rest  or  moved  me  to  sadness.  I 
strained  my  ears  to  catch  the  breezy  whisper,  at  times, 
and  again  it  swelled  into  accents  of  piteous  entreaty,  of 
sad  and  hopeless  longing.  One  niglit,  during  which  I 
never  once  closed  my  eyes,  rose  on  the  air  the  shriek  of 
the  blast,  torn  and  rent  by  the  coming  tempest.  I  rolled 
myself  beneath  a  shelving  rock  to  escape  the  violence 
of  the  threatening  storm.  I  was  driven  almost  to  frenzy 
by  the  howling  of  the  elements,  which  subsided  toward 
morning  into  those  mournful,  dirge-like  tones  we  chant 
at  the  graves  of  those  we  love.  If  it  seem  strange 
to  you  that  I  could  have  been  thus  deeply  moved  by 
cause  so  inadequate,  you  must  remember  that  I  was 
weak  as  a  child,  and  correspondingly  childish.  Besides, 
I  was  quite  alone  ;  and  have  not  solitary  prisoners  been 
known  to  lavish  their  regards  on  a  weed,  a  mouse,  a 
mole  or  a  beetle,  as  a  last  desperate  resort  for  com- 
panionship ? 

"  When  my  two  days'  rations  were  exhausted,  I  was 
strong  enough  to  bind  up  my  feet  with  rags,  and  hobble 
along  by  aid  of  a  stout  cudgel,  a  short  distance  at  a 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  149 

time.  I  thought  it  my  safest  course  to  keep  the  shelter 
of  the  wood,  for  I  knew  that  if  I  should  fall  in  with  the 
guerillas,  I  siiould  be  shot  down  with  as  little  com- 
punction as  though  I  were  a  dog. 

"  My  prospects  of  forage  vrere  of  the  scantiest ;  as  the 
few  niits  of  last  year's  growth  1  picked  up  under  an 
occasional  hickory  or  chinquapin  formed  my  main  de- 
pendence. 

"  1  will  write  you  more  to-morrow,  as  I  am  unable  to 
proceed  at  present,  my  pencil  flying  from  my  fingers 
when  I  strive  to  grasp  it  firmly." 


CHAPTEE    X 


PEISOXER  S    DIAEY. 


Mar.  7. — It  was  but  a  short  distance  I  could  drag 
myself  along  at  a  time,  wearily  trailing  my  musket 
after  me,  so  I  followed  the  course  of  a  narrow  stream 
leading  northwardly,  that  I  might  not  be  forced  to  en- 
croach on  my  small  remnant  of  strength  in  searching 
for  water.  On  its  bank,  I  came  across  a  sort  of  wild 
thorn-apple  tree,  to  w^hose  leafless  branches  still  clung 
a  considerable  quantity  of  the  fruit,  which,  though 
softened  by  frost,  w^as  not  to  be  despised  by  one  whose 
commissary  stores  were  in  such  a  state  of  depletion  as 
mine.  As  I  could  neither  climb  the  tree  nor  fell  it,  I 
had  recourse  to  a  forked  stick  in  pulling  down  its 
branches,  from  which  I  partly  filled  my  empty  haver- 
sack. A  silver-grey  squirrel  bounced  out  of  a  hole  in 
the  trunk  and  was  off  in  a  twinkling.  To  the  little  crea- 
ture's provident  foresight  I  owed  a  timely  supply  of 
shell-barks,  acorns,  wild  oats,  and  corn,  which  1  appro- 


150  THE    rJVAL    VOLUXTEERS;    OR, 

priated  -sTithoiit  scruple,  and  proceeded  on  my  way 
rejoicing  in  the  i)roud  consciousness  of  being  a  man  of 
means  once  more. 

The  longer  I  followed  the  windings  of  the  stream  the 
fartlier  it  seemed  to  lead  me  into  the  depths  of  the 
forest,  until  I  became  convinced  that,  if  nearing  tlie  fort 
at  all,  it  was  by  a  most  circuitous  route.  At  last,  I 
approached  an  opening,  and  my  eyes  were  gladdened 
at  sight  of  human  habitation,  a  humble  dwelling  of  a 
single  story,  with  cow-stable  attached.  I  resolved  to 
reconnoitre  the  position  during  the  night,  and  to  be 
governed  by  .the  result. 

The  near  discharge  of  a  gun  gave  me  a  violent  start. 
I  made  off,  through  a  copse  of  ground  laurel,  as  fast  as 
hands  and  feet  would  carry  me  ;  and  was  just  congratu- 
lating myself  on  escape  from  imminent  peril,  when 
crack  went  a  second  shot,  which  brought  an  involuntary 
cry  to  my  lips,  for  I  was  hit.  Another  instant,  and  a 
man  whose  name  I  could  not,  and  cannot  now  recall, 
although  I  recognized  him  as  belonging  to  one  of  the 
regiments  of  our  brigade,  was  bending  over  me,  mutter- 
ing with  a  look  of  consternation  and  horror,  "Too  con- 
founded bad,  by  Jove!  Who  would  have  thought  to 
find  one  of  our  fellows  here  ?" 

Through  the  slit  he  cut  in  the  leg  of  my  pantaloons, 
the  blood  spirted  up  in  jets,  showing  that  an  artery  had 
been  sundered.  Tearing  his  red  silk  handkerchief  into 
strips,  he  bound  the  same  as  ligature  above  and  below 
the  wound,  tightening  the  higher  bandage  by  running 
his  bayonet  beneath  it,  and  giving  the  blade  a  double 
turn,  after  which  he  dressed  the  hurt  as  well  as  the 
means  at  his  disposal  would  allow.  Gathering  a  pile 
of  leaves  for  my  pillow,  and  folding  about  me  the  blan- 
ket he  had  worn  strapped  across  his  shoulders,  I  was," 
aside  from  the  fiery  tingling  of  the  deep  flesh-wound 
throbbing  through  my  injured  limb,  more  comfortably 


THE    BLACK   PLUilE   RIFLES.  151 

circumstanced  than  I  had  been  since  taking  np  "^'ith 
forest-lodgings.  Opening  his  haversack,  my  hospitable 
host  tempted  me  ^vith  its  delicacies — parched  corn, 
boiled  chestnuts,  and  freshlv-baked  oat-cake.  "  A  gift 
of  reconciliation,"  said  he  ;  "  pray  partake.  Yon  know 
I  would  not  purposely  have  harmed  a  hair  of  your 
head.  On  all  fours  as  you  were,  I  mistook  you  in  the 
laurel  shrubs  for  a  villainous  wolf-hound  which  sprang 
upon  and  would  have  throttled  me,  if  I  had  not 
clubbed  my  musket  and  fended  off  the  brute.  •See  how 
he  tore  my  sleeve  and  lacerated  my  arm.  You  need 
nothing  I  can  get  for  you  now,  unless  it  be  a  draught 
of  fresh  water,  which  I  will  bring  from  the  well  I 
saw  near  the  house  below," 

He  started,  taking  his  gun,  but  leaving  his  haversack 
with  contents  temptingly  displayed  beside  me.  I  was 
roused  to  a  sense  of  anxious  foreboding  by  the  sound  of 
a  pistol-shot  soon  after  his  departure,  and  waited  long 
for  his  return  ;  waiting  in  vain.  He  never  came  back 
to  me ;  and  I  have  heard  nothing  of  him  from  that  day 
to  this. 

I  thought  my  trials  had  already  been  tolerably 
severe  ;  but  they  sank  into  insignificance  in  comparison 
with  what  followed.  Kext  day,  my  wound  was  much 
more  painful,  and  I  couldn't  move  even  a  toe  without 
hurting  the  tense  and  swollen  muscles.  For  food  I  had 
not  the  least  desire,  but  the  claims  of  thirst  became, 
each  hour,  more  importunate.  Swarms  of  gnats  clus- 
tered about  me,  and  drove  me  half  frantic  with  their 
stings.  Winged  bugs  from  some  rhododendrons  near 
seemed  sociably  inclined,  and  one  audacious  ear-wig 
really  frightened  me  by  repeated  attempts  to  carry 
auricular  portcullis  by  a  bold  dash. 

Toward  nightfall,  my  craving  for  water  became  so 
m-gent  that  I  determined  to  see  how  far  locomotion  was 
possible  to  me  ;  but  only  succeeded  in  raising  myself  on 


152  THE  MTAL   VOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

my  elbow,  when  I  was  forced  to  lie  down  again,  half 
fainting  with  pain.  The  dew  gathered  on  tne  tender 
laurel  slioots,  and  the  cool  drops  were  grateful  to  my 
parched  ton_2;ue. 

A  rain  soft  and  continuous  commenced  at  dawn.  In 
one  sense,  this  was  a  relief,  for  I  caught  the  descending 
moistui-e  in  my  mouth,  absorbed  it  through  my  pores, 
and  thus,  in  some  slight  measure,  alleviated  the  feverish 
tliirst  that  was  fast  degenerating  into  a  burning  scald 
from  thi15at  to  stomach.  But  as  every  benefit  "in  this 
woe-worn  world  of  ours  has  its  corresponding  drawback, 
this  steadily-pouring  rain  soon  chilled  me  to  the  very 
marrow,  and  added  greatly  to  my  sufferings.  In  all 
my  joints  were  such  wringing  pains  that  they  made  me 
writhe,  which  only  irritated  my  wound ;  but  worst  of 
all  to  bear,  was  a  sharp,  darting  ache  that  took  its  rise 
in  the  temples,  coursed  with  various  turnings  and 
branchings  down  both  sides  of  the  face,  and  brought 
up  in  the  teeth  with  such  a  sharp  turn,  that  they  seemed 
bent  on  quitting  altogether,  and  were  so  nearly 
wrenched  out  of  their  sockets,  that  I  couldn't  shut  my 
mourii. 

Two  days  went  by  in  this  way,  and  then  the  sun 
came  out  once  more — came  out  with  a  perfect  blaze  of 
brightness  that  penetrated  like  sharp  blades  through  my 
weak  eyes  into  my  weaker  brain.  Again  my  ])oor 
throat  throbbed  and  burned  with  a  dry  heat  that  filled 
me  with  a  maddening;  lona^ins:  for  a  coolino^*draui2:ht. 
I  think  my  senses  must  have  slightly  wandered  at 
times,  as  I  more  than  once  started  from  an  attack  of 
drowsy  lethargy  to  implore  a  cup  of  cold  water  from  an 
liiiiiginary  bystander,  who,  tantalizingly  placed  the 
refreshing  beverage  just  beyond  my  reach.  I  have 
heard  persons  complain  of  being  light-headed ;  if  that 
was  the  feeling  I  experienced,  pray  Heaven  I  never  be 
called  upon  to  endure  it  again.     It  was  as  though  the 


THE    BLACK   PLU3IE    RIFLES.  153 

eartli  vras  solid  and  enduring,  while  I  -^vas  so  light  and 
visionary,  that  there  were  no  sufficient  ties  to  bind  me 
to  its  friendlj  liold — a  hold  to  which  I  clung  with  the 
tenacity  of  a  drowning  man  to  a  straw. 

I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  oii*  a  tree,  a  locust,  I  believe, 
which  stood  a  short  distance  from  where  I  lay.  Its 
flexile,  willowy  branches,  as  they  bent  toward  me, 
swayed  by  the  wind,  seemed  about  to  raise  me  from  the 
ground,  and  waft  me  away  to  realms  viewless  and  afar, 
w  ith  the  strength  of  desperation,  I  strove  with  all  the 
might  of  my  being  to  retain  my  hold  on  this  mortal 
sphere,  by  withstanding  the  allnrements  tempting  me  to 
soar  upward  in  untried  flight,  and  grasping  the  laurels 
so  flriidy  rooted  to  earth. 

There  was  a  footstep,  a  soft,  velvety,  treacherous  step 
on  the  dry  leaves  about  me ;  it  drew  stealthily  nearer, 
but  yet  inspired  me  with  no  fear.  The  sharp  pointed 
muzzle,  the  lean,  hungry  jaws,  armed  with  deadly  in- 
cisors, approaching  so  dangerously  near  ray  unguarded 
throat,  yet  awoke  in  me  no  terror.  Full  in  the  eyes  of 
the  savage  beast  that  had  lacerated  tlie  arm  to  which  I 
owed  my  then  helpless  condition  I  looked  without 
blenching.  Dr.  Livingstone,  the  celebrated  African 
explorer,  tells  us,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  that,  on  being 
seized  upon  by  a  lion,  he  felt,  after  the  first  rough  shake 
by  the  formidable  monster,  neither  pain  nor  apprehen- 
sion of  what  was  to  follow.  This,  it  seems  to  me,  is 
easily  accounted  for.  The  wolf-hound  had  not  laid  a 
fang  on  me,  and  yet  I  was  as  indifferent  to  his  talons' 
gripe  as  though  I  had  not  been  fully  exposed  to  their 
powerful  grasp.  Through  physical  sufl'ei'ing,  added  to 
the  dread  that  my  spiritual  being  might  become  a  wreck 
before  its  release  from  material  organism,  I  had  so 
nearly  reached  the  acme  of  human  endurance  that  an 
additional  pang  would  have  driven  me  to  insensibility 
or  insanity.     In  mercy  the  final  blow  was  withheld. 

7* 


154  THE   RIVAL  VOLUNTEEES;   OR, 

The  hound  suddenly  sniffed  the  air,  and  betook  him- 
self to  the  forest  depths. 

A  heavy  step  drew  near,  and  a  stalwart  negro  stood 
before  me.  Scarcely  deignim^  me  a  look,  he  critically 
examined  my  musket,  and  leaned  it  against  the  trunk  of 
a  tree.  Next  he  lunched  composedly  from  the  haver- 
sack ;  but  started  up  in  a  fluster,  emptying  his  mouth 
hurriedly,  and  stuffing  his  pockets  with  the  remnants  of 
his  repast,  as  the  sound  of  approaching  hoofs  caught  his 
ear. 

A  call,  like  the  clear  note  of  a  flute,  vibrated  on  the 
air. 

'*  Here  I  am.  Missis ;  com  in',''  responded  my  sable 
visitor. 

A  lady,  who,  at  flrst  sight,  made  me  think  of  Scot's 
Die  Yernon,  she  managed  her  spirited  steed  with  such 
an  easy,  off-hand  grace,  rode  up.  If  you  would  know 
what  she  was  like  in  feature,  look  at  the  Maid  of  Sara- 
goza.  in  colored  crayons,  over  your  mantel — the  same 
oval  face,  raven-black  hair,  almond-shaped  eyes,  sliglitly 
depressed  at  their  inner  corners,  full  of  seeming  languor, 
but  veiling  a  latent  fire  that  tells  you  the  dagger  at  her 
girdle  may  be  worn  for  other  purposes  than  mere 
ornament. 

"Why  are  you  not  at  your  hoeing,  Grumbo?"  she 
asked  with  severity. 

"  I'se  jest  gwine.  Missis  ;  I'se  only  dun  ben  snarin'  a 
coon  for  that  bressed  Rose." 

The  lady  reined  her  horse  up  beside  me. 

"How  long  have  you  been  lying  here?"  she  asked, 
with  that  compassion  which  is  the  birth-right  of  your 
sex. 

I  strove  to  answer ;  but,  to  my  surprise,  found  that  I 
could  not  articulate  a  single  s^dlable.  Springing  lightly 
to  the  ground,  she  unfastened  a  small  wicker  flask  from 
the  ring  attaching  it  to  her  belt,  and  pouring  some  wine 


THE  BLACK    PLr:M:E   HIFLES.  155 

into  the  tin  cup  beside  me,  held  it  to  my  lips.  My 
throat  ^VRS  so  sore  and  swollen  that  I  could  not  swallow 
a  drop,  and  came  near  strangulation  in  making  the 
attempt. 

"  Here,  Grumbo,  go  for  a  couple  of  servants,  and  see 
that  they  bring  cushions  and  whatever  is  needful  for 
carrying  a  sick  man  ;  Aunt  Winifred  will  direct  you." 

She  remained  beside  me,  her  bridle  rein  thrown  care- 
lessly over  her  arm,  while  her  behests  were  carried  into 
effect.  I  was  thankful  for  the  protection  of  her  presence, 
although  her  manner  was  marked  by  that  air  of  haughty 
disdain,  so  often  acquired  through  constant  association 
with  flatterers  or  inferiors.  The  servants  arrived 
promptly,  and  she  sprang  to  her  seat  in  the  saddle, 
scarcely  pressing,  with  her  slenderly  arched  foot,  the 
broad,  ebon  palm  aiding  her  as  step  in  mounting. 

In  passing  the  small  dwelling  of  a  single  story  I  have 
already  mentioned,  I  noticed  that  it  had  been  burned  to 
the  ground. 

Through  a  broad  gateway  my  carriers  bore  me,  up  an 
ascending  carriage-sweep,  bordered  on  either  side  by 
double  rows  of  the  golden-belled  cycanthea.  Kounding 
a]i  acclivity,  studded  with  magnolia  and  cottonwood, 
we  came  in  sight  of  a  large  stone  villa,  with  a  highly 
ornate  tower,  balconies,  arcades,  verandas,  and  all  the 
modern  pretensions  to  elegance  and  symmetry  of  archi- 
tectural design.  At  the  carriage-porch  my  benefactress 
met  us,  and,  at  a  sign  from  her,  1  was  borne  through 
hall  and  corridor  up  the  velvet-piled  staircase,  whose 
panelled  mirrors  showed  me  a  face  I  at  first  mistook 
for  that  of  a  stranger — a  face  haggard  and  worn,  with 
nntrimmed  beard  and  matted  hair,  with  bloodshot  eyes 
and  farrowed  brow^ — my  own. 

IS"©  one  who  has  not  suffered  as  I  had,  untended  and 
alone,  with  the  earth  for  a,  couch  and  the  sky  for  a 
covering,  can  conceive  the  depth  of  my  gratitude  and 


156  THE   EITAL   YOTUXTEEKS  ;    OR, 

my  content  at  finding  myself  kindly  provided  for  be- 
neatli  the  shelter  of  a  comfortable  roof.  The  chamber 
assigned  ine  was  a  large  airy  apartment  commanding 
a  fine  view  of  the  grounds.  The  windows  were  barred 
and  grated — bat  what  of  that  ?  Disease,  in  my  case, 
Avas  more  potent  jailer  than  any  other  to  whose  watch 
and  ward  1  could  have  been  subjected. 

A  surgeon  was  summoned  to  my  aid,  and,  for  the  first 
time,  my  wound  was  properly  dressed.  For  three  days 
I  lay  in  a  sort  of  stupor,  partially  induced  by  soothing 
drugs  that  lulled  the  pain  and  granted  me  rest.  Then 
came  that  depressing  faintness  resulting  from  a  sickly, 
fitful  craving  for  nutriment  which  the  system  has  no 
power  to  digest  or  assimilate.  I  didn't  know  this,  how- 
ever, and  prayed  for  food  with  the  pertinacity  of  a  street 
beggar  who  wishes  to  get  the  servant  away  from  the 
door  that  petty  piherings  may  be  safely  ventured  on. 

In  a  feeble  whisper  I  assured  the  doctor  that  I  was 
actually  starving,  and  tried  to  put  the  case  pathetically 
by  telling  him  that  when  shipwrecked  mariners,  or 
Arctic  voyagers,  beleaguered  by  frost  and  snow,  nar- 
rated their  struggles  fur  subsistence,  everybody  listened 
with  the  deepest  commiseration,  but  when  it  was  only  a 
poor  wretch  of  a  patient  who  was  famisiiing  scientifically, 
under  lawful  medical  ban,  he  was  welcome  to  do  so  at 
his  leisure,  while  Levite,  Pharisee,  Samaritan  and  all 
passed  by  on  the  other  side. 

"  Mj  dear  fellow,"  said  the  doctor,  with  blandest  good- 
humor,  *'I  must  really  congratulate  you  on  your  im- 
proved prospects.  Your  symptoms  are  more  favorable 
thcin  I  had  reasjn  to  anticipate." 

"  What  symptoms  ?"  I  asked,  sulkily. 

"  Tills  excessive  irritability,  tor  one,"  he  returned,  "  is, 
almost  invariald}^,  one  of  the  earliest  precursors  of  con- 
valescence. Then  your  complaints  of  hunger  arc  just 
what  I  could  have  wished — ^highly  encouraging." 


THE  BLACK  PLTTITE  EIFLES.  157 

My  indignation  and  disgust  I  had  no  words  to  express. 
To  think  of  the  creature's  prating  of  irritability  when  I 
had  only  uttered  the  calmest  protest  against  slow  murder 
by  famine,  and  sitting  calmly  by  expressing  gratilica- 
tion  at  the  pangs  of  hunger  he  was  forcing  me  to 
undergo.  If  I  had  told  him  what  I  thought  of  this 
heartless  persecution  of  one  helpless  to  resist  the  tyranny 
of  professional  dictum,  it  would  have  been  in  language 
far  from  complimentary  ;  but  I  had  sense  enough  to 
restrain  all  expression  of  resentment,  and  to  ask  with  a 
show  of  outward  calmness  how  soon  I  was  to  be  allowed 
something  to  eat. 

''  Your  appetite  is  naturally  fastidious,  at  present,"  said 
he,  whisking  a  speck  of  dust  from  his  faultless  patent- 
leathers  ;  ''  we  nmst  allow  it  to  become  a  trifle  more  nor- 
mal in  its  importunities  before  it  will  be  safe  to  yield  to 
its  demands.  I  will  look  at  your  tongue.  Better,  de- 
cidedly ;  clearing  at  the  edges,  with  less  irritation  of 
the  oesophagus.  Can  you  think  now  of  a  thimbleful  of 
any  sort  of  conserve  you  could  relish  ?" 

*'  Hang  conserves,"  I  answered,  crossly  ;  ^'  I  don't  care 
a  straw  for  anything  by  way  of  relish  ;  but  I  should  be 
thankful  for  a  scrap  of  wholesome,  nourishing  food,  if  it 
were  nothing  better  than  a  bit  of  corn-dodger,  to  stop 
this  dying  faintncss  which  is  as  hard  as  pain  to  bear." 

''  I  know  it,"  he  admitted,  with  pretended  sympathy, 
"  and  it  is  what  we  cannot  at  once  alleviate.  How  would 
the  wing  of  a  canvas-back,  if  boiled  until  very  tender, 
with  macaroni,  and  a  morsel  of  lettuce,  suit  you  ?" 

"  To  a  charm.     How  soon  can  I  have  them  ?" 

"  We  will  decide  that  point  next  time  I  call.  If  I  have 
succeeded  in  rousing  your  torpid  digestives  to  a  state  of 
more  normal  activity  than  they  have  hitherto  evinced, 
I  have  accomplished  all,  and  more  than  all,  I  proposed 
eflecting  at  this  visit.  Am  use  your  fancy  by  conjuring 
up  all   the  dainty  dishes  Miss  T\'inifred  will  have  the 


158  THE   RIYAL   VOLrNTEEHS  ;    OE, 

pleasure  of  preparing  for  you  as  soon  as  jou  take  off 
your  ir.rs — from  the  unruly  member,  I  mean.  If  3'ou 
can  work  off  any  of  this  surplus  spleen  by  hard  thoughts 
of  the  doctor,  so  much  the  better  for  you,  and  none  the 
worse  for  him — lie  is  used  to  it." 

I  thouglit  this  adding  insult  to  injury,  and  scowled  at 
him,  as,  with  urbane  sauvity,  he  wished  me  ''  a  very 
good  day." 

I  must  close  my  record  for  to-day,  as  giddiness  already 
warns  me  that  I  have  exceeded  the  limits  of  my  slowly- 
returning  strength.  To-morrow,  if  possible,  I  shall  re- 
sume tlie  pencil  which  affords  me,  at  once,  employment 
and  recreation. 

Mar.  10. — I  can  write  but  a  few  lines  for  your  con- 
templated perusal  to-day,  Minnie;  for  Dr.  Bolus,  ne 
Saltonstall,  has  put  an  injunction  on  paper  and  pencil, 
in  order  to  restrain  within  bounds  what  he  terms  my 
irregular  mode  of  procedure  therewith.  The  fact  is, 
that  I  so  exhausted  myself  by  over-exertion  on  Friday 
that  I  have  scarcely  been  able  to  open  my  eyes  or  raise 
my  head  from  the  pillow  since,  and  have  gone  back  to 
hyoscyamus  and  lupuline  as  quietants.  I  bear  the  in- 
terdiction with  the  greater  equanimity  that  it  will  be 
all  the  same  to  you  whether  I  write  now  or  a  week 
hence ;  as,  owing  to  interruptions  and  irregularities  in 
postal  service,  I  have  no  means  of  communicating  with 
you  by  letter  or  otherwise. 

I  have  not  as  yet  told  you  anything  about  the  inmates 
of  this  luxurious  abode,  because  I  have  had  very  little 
to  tell.  The  jauntily-dressed  man-servant  who  looped  a 
cord  about  my  wrist,  and  fastened  it  to  the  bell-spring 
that  was  beyond  my  reach,  that  I  might  ring  for  him 
when  needful,  never  fails  to  obey  my  summons  promptly, 
and  serves  me  with  ready  civility,  but  evidently  looks 
upon  me  as  no  friend  to  the  house,  and  never  wastes  on 
me  a  single  superfluous  word. 


THE   BLACK  PLUME  EITLES.  159 

Miss  Holmes — Aunt  "Winifred,  as  they  call  her — is  a 
kind-hearted,  elderly  maiden,  who  makes  me  lotions  and 
herb-drinks,  and  is  the  only  living  being  about  the  place 
-who  ever  condescends  to  enter  into  conversation  with 
nie.  Through  her  I  learn  that  the  name  of  the  lady  who 
rescued  me  from  a  lingering  death  is  Elanwood ;  that 
siie  is  only  child  of  Judge  Carroll,  a  man  of  considerable 
local  celebrity,  and  wife  of  a  rebel  officer  to  whom  she 
has  been  less  than  a  year  wedded.  Energetic,  self-reli- 
ant, rather  educated  than  accomplished,  gifted  with  rare 
personal  charms,  and  an  heiress  in  her  own  right,  no 
wonder  that  she  exerts  an  influence  not  usually  accorded 
a  woman,  not  only  tln-oughout  her  own  plantation,  but 
over  the  community  at  large.  These  fearless,  spirited 
southern  women,  when  their  fathers,  husbands,  and 
brothers  are  serving  in  the  army,  dauntlessly  brave 
_ many  a  peril,  and  follow  many  a  masculine  avocation  in 
a  way  that  shocks  our  stricter  sense  of  propriety ;  but  it 
cannot  be  denied,  after  all,  that  this  fervor  of  feminine 
partisanship,  encouraged  rather  than  repressed  by  the 
chivalry,  is  a  source  of  strength  to  their  cause.  Pray 
Heaven  that  the  trying  necessities  of  the  hour  never  force 
you  to  cast  aside  the  delicate  mantle  of  feminine  reserve 
screening  you  from  rude  or  vulgar  gaze,  and  to  brave 
the  rough  gales  your  form  is  too  slight  to  withstand  ; 
grasping  the  heavy  brand  never  meant  for  such  tender 
hands.  If  my  hopes  miglit  but  be  index  to  your  happi- 
ness, rest  assured  all  would  bo  well  with  you. 

Wednesday,  Mar.  12. — Yesterday  was  the  first  time 
that,  by  aid  of  a  crutch  and  the  doctor's  arm,  I  was  able 
to  get  across  the  room,  and  to  sit  for  a  couple  of  hours  at 
the  window.  It  was  very  painful  to  straighten  out  the 
contracted  muscles  of  my  wounded  leg,  but  I  was  amply 
repaid  for  the  suffering  by  the  pleasure  of  looking  forth 
on  a  scene  so  fair  as  the  one  greeting  my  sight.  A  cold 
grapery,  with  its  white  and  purple  clusters  of  luscious 


160  THE   KITAL   TOL^^'TEE^.S  ;    OR, 

fruit,  first  caught  my  eye  on  a  southern  slope.  The 
shrubs  dottino:  the  hillside  lawn  were  already  draped  in 
cool  spring  robes  of  tender  green,  sometimes  efiloretted 
with  gold  nnd  silver,  ruby,  garnet  and  amethystine 
tint.  A  triple  row  of  budding  ma])les  screened  the  huts 
of  the  negroes  from  observation.  Farther  on,  I  watched 
their  leisurely  labors  in  the  hemp  and  tobacco  fields. 

As  1  thus  indolently  watched  others  toil,  Mrs.  Elan- 
wood,  whom  I  had  scarcely  seen  since  the  day  of  my 
arrival,  emerged  from  a  side-door,  followed  by  a  couple 
of  servants  bearing  a  large  heavy  carpet,  which  they 
commenced  beating,  after  carrying  it  to  the  rear  of  the 
premises.  Her  horse  was  led  to  the  entrance-door,  and 
from  step  to  saddle  she  sprang  without  aid,  and  gal- 
lopped  away  to  the  field  where  her  laborers  were  em- 
ployed. Not  a  hoe  or  spade  but  moved  more  quickly 
at  her  approach.  She  seemed  possessed  of  an  exuber- 
ant vitality  that  inspired  others  with  something  of  her 
own  energy. 

Was  the  woman  ubiquitous?  Scarcel}^  five  minutes 
had  elapsed  since  1  saw  her  picking  her  way  along  the 
ridges  and  furrows  of  the  open  fields,  and  there  she  was 
a  mile  away,  throwing  her  bridle-rein  to  a  colored  youth, 
and  entering  a  saw-mill  on  the  stream. 

My  door  opened,  and  Miss  Holmes  softly  entered. 
After  congratulating  me  on  my  improved  appearance, 
she  drew  a  chair  for  herself  to  the  opposite  window. 

'•  Dear  me,"  she  sighed,  "  that  irrepressible  Adrienne 
will  give  us  no  rest.  Up  with  the  dawn,  she  seems  inca- 
pable of  fatigue,  and  we  lag  after  her  with  tired  steps, 
trying  to  second  her  plans.  Is  that  Aclimed,  her  sad- 
dle-horse, at  the  saw-mill  yonder  ?" 

"  If  Adrienne  be  Mrs.  Elanwood,  she  dismounted  but 
a  moment  previous  to  your  entrance." 

"Pardon  me — the  same.  She  has  received  orders  for 
lumber  from  the  commandant  at '  Brentford  Barracks,' 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    PaFLES.  161 

wliicli  she  chooses  to  see  filled,  as  she  prides  herself  on 
having  the  entire  estate  as  well  managed  during  the 
General's  absence  as  when  he  was  here  to  sn])eriiitend 
affairs.  So  absurd  for  a  lady  of  refilled  and  elegant 
culture  to  bother  her  head  with  sorting  timber  and 
planks,  rafters  and  joists,  boarding  and  fiooring,  as  she 
does.  Do  jou  see  that  carpet  she  has  had  dragged  up 
from  the  drawing-room  floor  this  morning?" 

''I  have  been  looking  at  it ;  a  splendid  piece  of  weav- 
ing and  coloring." 

''  I  thought  so  when  I  applauded  its  selection  at  I^ash- 
ville.  The  idea  of  cutting  up  a  medallion  like  that  for 
soldiers'  bunks  and  floor-cloths  !  but  she  will  have  it  so. 
"When  I  remonstrated  that  a  three-ply,  or  bocking  even, 
would  do  just  as  well  for  the  rougli  wear  and  tear  to 
which  it  would  be  exposed,  she  shut  me  up  with — '  Bock- 
ing for  the  poor  fellows  who  are  blanketless,  and  you  so 
please  ;  but  for  the  master  of  Laurenstein  there  is  no- 
thing at  Laurenstein  too  good.  He  shall  have  soft  car- 
pets, and  snowy  linen,  and  palatable  viands  so  long  as 
there  is  strength  in  this  poor  hand  to  prepare  them,  and 
skill  in  this  poor  head  to  cunningly  devise  methods  for 
conveying  them  to  him.'  I  do  believe  she  would  screen 
the  opening  to  his  tent  with  the  canopied  curtains  of 
lace  and  brocatelle  if  he  would  but  express  a  half  wish 
to  that  efi'ect.  As  though,  with  all  his  cares,  he  would 
stop  to  notice  whether  he  trod  on  straw  or  velvet,  looked 
through  lace  or  tatters ;  he  anight,  though,  if  it  was  her 
hand  that  bestowed  the  gift. 

"  AYhy,  we  used  to  call  him  the  confirmed  bachelor — 
he  used  to  dance  with  me,  and  has  twice  the  age  of  my 
niece — he  was  so  unimpressionable,  in  his  lordly  inde- 
pendence, scarcely  glancing  long  enough  at  a  woman  to 
faee  if  she  were  a  crow  or  a  swan.  That's  the  sort  of 
man,  so  secure  as  he  deems  himself  in  his  trebly-barred 
mail  of  haughty  indifference,  to  be  enthralled  beyond  all 


162 

hope  of  release,  if  suddenly  taken  olT  his  guard.  He 
went  often  to  discuss  questions  of  state  with  the  judge; 
and  when  he  waxed  eloquent  over  our  sectional  wrongs 
from  those  who,  reaping  the  full  benefit  of  our  prosper- 
ity, whicli  puts  bread  in  the  mouths  of  nortliern  me- 
chanic and  manufacturer,  in  return  for  which  they  seek 
by  all  means  to  embarrass  our  progress  and  cast  a  bone 
of  contention  in  our  path — one  whicli  they  Avill  gnaw  to 
their  cost  if  they  do  not  drop  it  soon — Adrienne,  who 
was  present  with  nie  at  these  interviews,  and  gets  hold 
of  burning  words  when  her  enthusiasm  is  roused,  elec- 
trified him  by  the  zeal  with  which  she  echoed  and 
sustained  his  opinions.  It  was  through  the  iiead  she 
reached  his  heart,  w^liich  she  holds  none  the  less  securely, 
perhaps,  on  that  account.  I  always  thought  him  singu- 
larly unobservant  of  trivial  events,  but  in  all  matters 
pertaiuing  to  Adrienne  his  eyes  are  of  the  keenest ;  not 
a  bud  in  her  braids,  not  the  fall  of  a  fold,  not  the  float 
of  a  frill  escapes  him  ;  singular,  isn't  it  ?" 

"  It  does  not  seem  so  to  me,"  I  replied.  Do  you 
know  of  whom  I  was  thinking  ? — Minnie. 

"  See,  she  resumed,  they  are  tearing  down  the  beau- 
tiful iron  fence  that  was  so  lately  put  up  ;  that  goes 
with  the  chairs  in  the  veranda  and  the  railings  of  the 
balconies,  for  cannon-balls,  I  suppose.  I  wouldn't  be 
surprised  if  the  safe,  with  all  its  plate,  went  next.  How 
I  chatter  to  a  stranger.  I  hope  I  have  given  you  some- 
thing to  think  of  and  help  pass  away  the  hours  which 
must  go  slowly  with  so  much  pain,  and  so  few  objects 
to  fill  them.  Have  you  sat  up  long  enough  ?  and  shall 
I  send  Meldrone  to  your  assistance  ^" 

I  was  not  quite  ready  to  forego  my  freshly  acquired 
privilege  of  sight-seeing  ;  and  she  left  me  to  enjoy  it  unin- 
terruptedly. The  carpet  was  freed  from  dust  and  car- 
ried into  the  house,  Mrs.  Elanwood  disappearing  along 
with  it.     I  was  thinking  of  pulling  the  cord  at  my  wrist 


I  THE   BLACK   PLUME   PJFLES.  163 

for  help  to  aid  me  in  returning  to  bed,  Tvhen  she  re- 
appeared in  Yelvet  cap  aiul  closely-iitting  jacket,  and 
commenced  firing  at  a  target — a  rude  wooden  figure  of 
a  man — aiming  mostly  at  tlie  heart,  and  proving  herself 
quite  an  accomplished  markswoman  in  that  direction; 
though  I  couldn't  help  thinking  there  were  more  agree- 
able ways  in  which  a  lovely  woman  might  approach 
a  man's  heart,  than  through  the  agency  of  a  pistol- 
shot. 

Monday^  Mar.  2^. — It  is  more  than  a  week  since  I 
have  touched  paper  or  pencil,  for  the  weather  has  been 
60  delightfully  bland  and  summer-like,  that  I  have,  per 
order  of  Dr.'^Saltonstall,  devoted  my  whole  vitality  to 
the  process  of  recuperating  in  the  open  air.  First,  Mel- 
drone  dragged  me  about  in  an  old  garden-chair  he 
rummaged  the  attic  to  find  ;  but  now  I  stroll  about  the 
grounds  with  only  the  drawback  of  a  not  very  noticeable 
limp, 

When  Mrs.  Elanwood  found  that  I  was  well  enough 
to  walk,  she  exacted  my  word  of  honor  that  I  would  not 
step  outside  certain  prescribed  limits ;  this  move  on  her 
part  precluding  all  chance  of  escape,  had  it  been  other- 
wise practicable. 

I  must  tell  you  of  a  little  occurrence  happening  yes- 
terday, which  I  shouldn't  deem  worth  recounting  at 
another  time  ;  but  now  that  we  are  unhappily  at  vari- 
ance with  this  people,  any  candid  expression  of  their 
opinion  ought  to  be  of  interest  to  us,  as  it  never  does 
any  harm  to  look  on  both  sides  of  a  case,  however 
firmly  we  may  be  grounded  in  the  faith  that  our  own 
side  is  wholly  right,  the  opposing  one  wholly  wrong. 

You  must  know  that  the  negro  chapel,  a  rough 
structure  of  pine  boards  near  their  quarters,  although 
not  within  sight  of  the  villa,  was  plainly  within  hear- 
ing of  the  same,  fl  was  roused  from  a  reverie,  in  the 
summer-house  where  I  was  lounging,  by  a  succession 


164  THE    EIVAL    YOLUXTEERS;    OK, 

of  tlie  most  discordant  yells  and  shrieks  that  ever  burst 
on  astounded  n-iortal's  ear.  Fire  or  insurrection  was 
the  least  I  could  suppose  those  direful  sounds  to  por- 
tend. Ci'eeping  along  in  the  shade  of  the  shrubbery,  I 
cautiously  niado  my  way  to  the  rear  of  the  chapel 
whence  all  this  din  proceeded.  Tlie  position  I  was 
enabled  to  gain  in  the  shadow  of  a  shelving  rock, 
afforded  me,  through  an  unglazed  window  with  open 
shutter,  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  proceedings 
within,  while  I  remained  myself  invisible. 

It  verily  seemed  to  me  that  the  whole  congregation, 
judging  from  the  writhings  and  contortions  of  men, 
women  and  children,  had  been  suddenly  smitten  with 
St.  Yitus's  dance  ;  while  no  exhibition-room  short  of 
Bedlam  could  have  poured  forth  such  a  harrowing  con- 
catenation of  discordant  sounds.  While  one  shouted 
"Glory,  hallelujah !"  a  second  bellowed  at  the  top  of 
his  voice, /' With  cherubim  and  seraphim,  O  speak  thy 
praises  forth;"  a  third  besought  in  excruciating  falsetto, 
"Cry  out  and  shout,  O  daughter  of  Zion;"  and  in  shrill 
treble  came  cries  of,  "  Bress  de  Lord,  Amen ;''  witli  a 
variety  of  kindred  invocations.  I  must  confess  that  I 
was  deeply  shocked  at  this  seeming  parody  on  the  sacred 
rites  of  divine  service. 

The  door  oppo&i<-e  my  post  of  observance  was  pushed 
slowly  open,  and  Mrs.  Ehmwood,  holding  up  her  cloth 
riding-skirt  (she  had  just  been  to  visit  a  sick  child  of  the 
miller)  in  one  daintily  gauntleted  hand,  wliile  in  the 
other  she  carried  a  scarlet-handled  riding-whip,  banded 
with  gold,  looked  with  aspect  of  severe  reproval  about 
the  shrieking  assemblage.  As  one  after  another  caught 
her  look,  so  resolute,  so  replete  with  wordless  censure, 
their  voices  died  gradually  away,  until  only  an  occa- 
sional subdued  adjuration  gave  trace  of  the  deafening 
uproar  her  entrance  had  hushed. 

Then  she  spoke : 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  165 

"  When  jonr  master  was  at  home,  vre  had  no  such 
nnseenily  tumult  as  this  to  quell ;  and  it  is  thus  you 
make  good  jour  promises  to  conduct  yourselves  with  all 
decency  and  propriety  while  he  is  away,  fighting  the 
hardly-contested  battles  that  insure  our  safety.  Is  it 
seemly,  think  you,  to  desecrate  these  quiet  hours  of 
Sabbath  rest  by  yellings  and  hootings  that  remind  one 
of  a  disgraceful  street  brawl  ?  Parson  Cole,  what  excuse 
have  you  to  ofl'er  in  palliation  of  the  pernicious  example 
you  were  setting  your  flock  ?" 

This  question  was  addressed  to  the  chosen  expounder 
of  Holy  Writ,  occupying  the  rude  pinewood  desk  he 
had  been  vigorously  belaboring  by  way  of  emphasis  to 
his  soaring  elocutionary  flights.  Thus  appealed  to,  the 
embarrassed  parson  winked  at  the  obese  deacon  who, 
after  much  fumbling  in  a  leathern  pouch,  from  which 
plugs  of  tobacco,  broken  pipes,  fish-hooks  and  willow 
whistles  persistently  obtruded  themselves  on  his  unwill- 
ing notice,  drew  forth  a  rusty  key,  and  fitting  the  same 
to  the  lock  of  the  desk  door,  thereby  granted  the  cleri- 
cal culprit  release.  Hanging  his  head  with  an  air  tech- 
nically termed  sheepish,  the  reverend  transgressor  ap- 
proached his  fair  accuser. 

*'  'Taint  none  o'  my  fault.  Missis ;  all  dis  yere  screech- 
in'  an  hollerin' ;  it  was  all  trou'  Brudder  Broadfoot  dat 
de  rumpus  was  brewed.  What  business  hab  he  to  git 
up  on  dat  bench  an'  go  to  spoundin,  when  he  no  preacher, 
no  notin,  when  I  holdin'  forth  in  de  desk  to  all  dese  yere 
hardened  worshippers  of  dere  trespasses  and  sins ?  Eight 
in  de  midst  of  my  peroration,  dis  stiff-necked  brudder 
bust  right  out  a  prayin'  on  his  own  hook,  an'  when  all 
dese  yere  black  sheep  see  dis  one  ole  wether  gwine  ober 
de  fence,  ober  dey  all  goes  after  him,  each  one  a  hollerin 
louder'n  todder.  Den  what  could  I  do,  Missis,  but  push 
right  straight  on  in  de  eben  tenor  ob  my  way  ?  Wasn't 
I  put  here  to  break  de  bread  of  truf  to  dese  yere  vile 


166  .  THE    RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

worms  ob  de  dust,  an'  was  I  to  be  blowed  off  de  track 
by  de  vile  bref  of  such  a  scum  as  dat  Broadfoot  ?  I 
spects  not.  When  he  roared  like  a  mighty  bull  o' 
Ijashan,  what  could  I  do  but  put  in  all  de  louder  to 
drown  him  out?  Didn't  I  liab  a  duty  to  perform  to  de 
congregation,  which  was  mine,  not  his'n  ?" 

"A  strange  way  you  took  of  performing  it.  What 
good  did  it  do  your  congregation  your  outroaring  it  and 
him  ?" 

''  Bress  your  heart,  Missis,  you  no  see  dat  ?  How  de 
sheep  gwine  to  hear  de  voice  ob  de  shepherd,  'less  he  cry 
out  an'  shout  louder  dan  all  de  rest  ob  'em  ?  More'n 
dat,  how  de  good  God  to  hear  me  widout  I  pitch  my 
pipes  louder'n  all  de  oders  ?" 

"  He  can  hear  the  faintest  whisper ;  even  a  thought 
that  is  not  breathed  in  words  ;  never  forget  that." 

"What !  Massa  God  hear  dis  misable  sinner,  when  all 
his  flock  liftin'  up  dere  voices  like  de  mighty  rushin' 
waters  dat  carries  all  afore  'em  ?" 

"Even  so.  Parson  Cole;  through  the  thunder's  roll 
and  the  liurri(5ane's  crash,  the  faintest  breath  from  a 
praying  soul  mounts  upward  to  the  great  white  throne. 
Remember,  God  is  not  deaf  to  the  prayers  of  his  chosen  ; 
that  he  is  not  to  be  mocked  with  vain  repetitions  of  idle 
sound;  and  remembering  this,  let  me  hear  of  no  more  noisy 
disturbances  like  the  present." 

She  turned  to  leave,  and  more  than  one  voice  cried  in 
tone  of  penitent  fondness  :  "  God  bless  you,  Missis ;  you 
no  hab  to  s-pesk  again." 

I,  too,  hastened  to  make  good  my  retreat ;  but  as  I 
turned  a  corner  of  the  chapel,  I  came  face  to  face  with 
the  mistress  of  the  Heights. 

"  You  here!"  she  ejaculated,  with  a  look  of  startled 
surprise,  which  quickly  gave  place  to  a  crimson  flush  of 
indignation  on  her  cheek,  an  angry  blaze  in  her  eye,  as 
she  said  in  the  low  tones  of  suppressed  resentment : 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   RIFLES,  16T 

'i  You  bave  broken  TOur  parole,  sir ;  you  are  outside 
tbe  prescribed  bounds ;  I  will  take  good  care  tbat  you 
find  no  opportunity  for  a  repetition  of  tbe  oifence." 

I  endeavored  to  explain  to  ber  tbat  it  was  tbrougb 
purest  inadvertence,  wben  tbrown  off  my  guard  by 
sounds  whicb  I  feared  portended  evil  to  ber  bousebold, 
tbat  I  bad  overstepped  tbe  limits  assigned  me. 

"  You  anticipated  notbing  sbort  of  tbe  rising  of  the 
neo-roes,  an  anticipation  in  wbicb  tbe  wish  was  fatber  to 
tbe  tbouo-bt,"  sbe  returned,  with  a  contemptuous  curl  of 
tbe  lip.  "^  "  Do  not  flatter  yourself,  sir,  tbat  any  sucb 
rare  spectacular  entertainment  awaits  you.  My  people 
are  too  good  a  set  to  be  tampered  witb— not  an  evil, 
base-beailed  ingrate  amongst  tbem  ;  for  every  irreclaim- 
able knave  or  vagabond  is  relentlessly  weeded  out,  to 
avoid  contamination  for  tbe  rest,  and  sent  to  our  penal 
colonies— our  Siberia,  our  Tan  Dieman's  Land— tbe  rice 
plantations  Soutb.  It  is  you,  and  tbe  like  of  you,  wbo 
steal  amongst  us  under  cover  of  friendly, guise,  dog  our 
footsteps,  prowl  about  our  servants'  quarters,  and— but 
tbis  is  no  place  for  v^rds  like  these.  Come  with  me  to 
the  magnolia  walk." 

I  followed  as  requested,  until  we  were  beyond  bearmg 
of  any  of  the  congregation  disposed  to  become  eaves- 
droppers. 

I  feared  even  to  parry  ber  reproaches,  so  much  as 
attempt  refuting  ber  ar2:uments,  lest  I  should  be  drawn 
into  an  altercation  tbat  might  prove  strongly  prejudicial 
to  my  own  interests.     Thus  it  was  she  wbo  resumed : 

"It  is  your  demoniac  philanthropy  that  prevents  our 
teaching  and  trainins;  our  dependents  as  many  of  us 
would  gladly  do.  AVe  cannot  permit  the  unlettered 
hinds  to  learn  tbe  alphabet,  in  peace,  from  fear  of  in- 
cendiary pamphlets  wherein  most  noble  and  Christian 
gentlemen  do  most  Cbristianly  proclaim  doctrines  which, 
Tf  carried  to  strict  logical  result,  would  place  the  dagger 


168  THE   RIVAL   YOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

of  the  assassin,  the  weapon  of  the  malefactor,  in  hands 
now  true  to  tlieir  trust.  Yes ;  it  is  you,  and  such  as 
yon,  who  would  turn  to  curses  the  blessings  they  now 
shower  upon  us — who  would  teach  them  to  tear  the  hand 
that  feeds  them,  and  to  render  not  unto  Ciesar  the  things 
that  are  Caesar's  due.'' 

I  protested  that  she  wronged  me  foully  by  her  ground- 
less suspicions ;  but  she  was  too  much  under  the  sway 
of  their  influence  to  heed  my  protest,  which  she  cut 
short  by  her  own  vehement  flow  of  speech. 

"  I  have  been  a  quixotic  fool,"  she  cried,  impulsively, 
"  to  extend  the  rites  of  friendly  hospitality  to  one  whose 
very  garb — the  cannon  cross  on  whose  cap  front  pro- 
claims him  foe  to  all  my  heart  holds  dear.  Are  these 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water — these  untutored 
children  of  a  semi-barbaric  race,  who  are  but  half 
brouglit  under  the  yoke  of  civilization  as  yet — fit  sub- 
jects for  freedom  and  self-government,  think  you? 

MVho  would  be  free,  himself  must  strike  the  blow.' 

So  far  from  being  ready  to  do  this,  our  colored  laborers 
have  thus  far  shown  no  disposition  to  improve  to  the 
utmost  the  blow  others  have  struck  in  their  supposed 
behalf.  It  is  for  us  they  still  have  delved  and  trenched ; 
and,  drive  us  too  far  to  the  wall,  sir,  and  we  will  show 
you  for  whom  they  will  fight.  If  you  don't  find  your 
contrabands  more  ready  to  tax  your  charities  than  to 
render  you  diligent  service,  set  me  down  as  one  who 
prognosticates  falsely  of  these  trying  times.  By  my 
troth,  but  it  would  be  a  most  edifying  spectacle — oh,  a 
most  rare  and  suggestive  spectacle — to  see  these  faith- 
ful bondmen  defending  their  righiful  masters  against 
tlie  assaults  of  tlieir  would-be  liberators;  and  this  is 
what  it  would  come  to  unless  you  find  an  opportunity 
(Heaven  avert  the  same)  for  imposing  on  the  ignorant 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  169 

credulity  of  the  "blacks  somo  fiinciM  tale  of  possible 
or  snpposable  wrong,  and  so  turn  to  gall  and  wormwood 
tiie  love  they  bear  ns.  This  is  wliat  yon  will  hnd  no 
second  chance  of  accomplishing  on  this  yjlantation." 

'•  I  have  neither  sought,  nor  do  I  wisli  to  seek,  the 
accomplishment  of  any  such  purpose  as  that  to  which 
YOU  refer,"  I  firmly  but  quietly  assured  her. 

"  Then  why  are  you  in  armed  league  with  those  who 
would  either  subjugate  or  exterminate  ns  root  and 
brauclr?" 

'•  AYhen  a  traitor  is  shot,  he  is  neither  subjugated  nor 
exterminated;  he  simply  receives  tlie  just  penalty  for 
liis  crime  ;.  put  tlie  singular  noun  in  the  plural,  and  the 
principle  remains  still  the  same.  When  one  or  many 
rebel  against  a  government  which  has  been  true  to  i'^s 
constitutional  obligations,  one  or  many,  if  persisting  in 
rebellion,  must  reap  the  penalty  to  the  hard  and  bitter 
cnd."^ 

"  You  do  but  play  npon  words,  and  split  straws  of 
lingual  nicety.  What  is  it  you  do  seek  in  this  murder- 
ous conflict  ?" 

''  To  maintain,  in  its  full  integrity,  at  all  hazards  of 
blood  and  treasure,  this  great  and  growing  empire, 
marked,  by  nature  herself,  one  and  indivisible,  through 
its  great  arteries  of  noble  waters,  its  many-veined 
streams,  and  its  mountain  vertebrne  of  rocky  ridge  and 
low-browed  hill." 

"  And  it  is  this  glorious  empire  whose  disrnption  you 
have  precipitated  through  rash,  ill-considered  attempts 
to  raise  the  secial  status  of  a  race  not  yet  fitted  for  such 
elevation — it  is  not  the  violent  who  take  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven  by  storm.  '  God's  mills  grind  slow,'  and  when 
short-sighted  man,  in  his  puny  miglit,  piles  on  crude 
theory  and  Utopian  nostrum,  as  infallible  specific  for  all 
the  evil  wherewith  the  great  Physician  sees  fit  to  medi- 
cine this  sick  world,  ten  to  one  but  he  gets  entangled  in 

8 


170  THE   rJTAL    VOLUNTEERS  J    OR, 

the  machinery  lie  strives  to  accelerate  in  speed — that  is, 
if  he  be  not  one  of  those  who  bind  heavy  burdens  for 
other  men's  shoulders,  which  he  touches  not  with  so 
much  as  a  little  linger — dragging  thousands  of  his 
deluded  followers  to  their  doom,  instead  of  hastening  the 
millennium.  For  my  part,  I  am  content  to  take  the 
world  as  I  find  it ;  walking,  day  by  day,  with  steps  as 
little  faltering  as  may  be,  in  the  path  of  duty,  so  far  as 
it  is  made  plain  unto  me,  and  never  pinning  my  faith  to 
the  skirts  of  those  sanguinary  reformers  whose  specious 
schemes  grasp  consequences  too  vast  to  be  comprehended 
by  any  finite  mind.  I  will  see  you  again  to-morrow 
morning,  until  which  time  keep  your  jjersonal  liberty 
and  make  the  most  of  it.'' 

Bending  her  head  slightly,  in  haughty  salute,  she 
passed  on. 

AVhat  could  she  mean,  I  asked  myself,  by  bidding 
me  make  the  most  of  my  liberty  until  next  1  saw  her? 
Had  I  offended  her  beyond  forgiveness  by  inadvertently 
infringing  the  strict  letter  of  my  parole  i  I  surely  had 
refrained,  sorely  against  my  will  from  exasperating  her 
by  opposing  argument ;  and  was  I  to  be  subjected  to 
close  imprisonment,  or  some  Worse  penance,  in  expiation 
of  the  otfence  ?     I  could  but  wait  and  see. 

Last  night,  I  need  hardly  tell  you,  I  was  restless  and 
wakeful  with  apprehensions  of  what  the  day  might 
bring  forth.  Early  this  morning  I  was  summoned  to  the 
lady  s  presence.  She  bade  me  a  frigid  "  good  morning," 
as  I  entered  the  sewing-room,  scarcely  raising  her  eyes 
from  the  breadths  of  linen  she  was  tearing  into  strips  and 
passing  to  her  female  attendant  to  be  pieced  into  bandages. 

"  I  am  engaged  just  this  moment,"  said  she  ;  "  oblige 
me  by  passing  into  the  next  apartment — that  door  to  the 
right — \\*here  I  will  attend  you  presently." 

She  came  quite  soon  enough,  unfolding  her  purpose 
without  circumlocution  or  delay. 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  171 

"  Your  parole,  given  informally  and  only  to  a  ■^roman," 
she  commenced,  "  can  hardly  be  deemed  a  stringently 
binding  obligation  ;  and  I  have  decided  to  submit  a  new 
proposal,  or  rather  a  series  of  them,  to  your  considera- 
tion. It  is  at  your  option  to  join  the  other  federal 
prisoners  at  Guard  Barracks ;  to  be  liberated  on  parole 
registered  by  proper  authorities;  or,  if  you  prefer  re- 
maining here  until  your  health  is  more  fully  reestab- 
lished, you  can  do  so  by  consenting  to  have  a  ball  and 
chain  attached  to  your  leg  by  an  iron  band,  as  material 
guaranty  for  your  good  faith  and  honesty  of  purpose." 

I  ^vas  not  slow  in  deciding  which  of  the  three  to 
choose.  I  had  heard  so  much  of  the  ferocities  practised 
toward  prisoners  in  southern  jails  that  I  was  strongly 
disinclined  to  testing  such  dangers  and  hardships  in  my 
own  person.  If  I  were  liberated  on  my  word  of  honor,. 
I  was  debarred  the  privilege  of  entering  military  service 
again  during  the  present  war,  an  exemption  of  which  1 
was  by  no  means  disposed  to  avail  myself;  sol  declared 
my  preference  tor  the  ball  and  chain,  hoping  it  might 
not  prove  a  serious  hindrance  to  my  natural  facilities 
for  locomotion. 


CHAPTEE  XI. 

THE     MIDNIGUT    FLITTING. 

Wedxesday,  Ajyril  2. — I  am  so  differently  situated, 
my  condition  and  prospects  so  diametrically  changed, 
since  last  I  jotted  down,  solely  for  your  own  perusal,  my 
dear  Minnie,  some  faint  record  of  my  daily  experiences, 
that  it  is  only  by  an  effort  of  memory  I  am  able  to  re- 
Bume  the  broken  thread  of  mj  narrative. 


172  THE   RIVAL    TOLUXTEEnS  ;    OE, 

I  found  mj  i\q\v  badge  of  imprisonment  a.miich  more 
serious  encumbrance  than  I  had  anticipated.  Think  of 
an  eighr-pound  cannon-ball  and  heavy  iron  anklet, 
fastened  bv  a  lock,  whose  key  my  ca])tor  retained,  to  be 
worn  as  constant  ornament.  Then  the  chain  attaching 
ball  and  ring  was  so  short  that  I  could  only  take  the  ball 
in  ray  hand  by  stooping  so  much  that  it  made  my  gait 
resemble  that  of  a  borse  with  head  tethered  to  fore  foot 
by  a  short  halter.  If  I  got  tired  of  stooping  forward  and 
limping  like  a  cripple  about  the  place,  I  had  only  to  drag 
my  pretty  locket  after  me  when  straightway  it  caught 
at  bush  or  slirub,  stalk  or  vine,  and  sent  me  pitching 
lieadlong  to  earth.  I  became  so  disgusted  with  the 
scratches,  bruises  and  bloody  noses  I  gained  through  in- 
voluntary experiment  in  this  species  of  ground  and  lofty 
tumbling,  that  I  gave  up  my  daily  strolls,  remaining 
mostly  in  my  own  chamber  moodily  discontent.  A 
steady  rain,  of  several  daj's'  continuance,  but  added  to 
my  gloom.  Miss  Holmes  brought  me  books  from  the 
library,  and,  by  many  a  kindly  feminine  wile,  strove  to 
lighten  my  hours  of  their  weariness  ;  but  I  was  so  per- 
versely inclined  toward  wretchedness  that  I  neither  was, 
nor  aifected  to  be,  grateful. 

She  told  me  tiiat  they  were  daily  expecting  a  visit 
from  the  General,  who  had  received  promise  of  brief 
furlough,  and  I  heard  her  q-s  one  who  heareth  not,  de- 
voutly— I  had  very  nearly  written,  savagely — hoj^ing 
that  he  might  prove  an  accomplished  Petruchio,  and 
that  I  might  catch  some  faint  glimpse  of  his  method  for 
taming  this  modern  Kate,  who  had  shorn  me  of  freedom 
by  expedient  at  once  irritating  and  eifective. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  Thursday  last,  when, 
as  I  sat  hidden  from  prying  eyes  in  the  friendly  shade 
of  closely  clipped  thorn  and  liriodendron  hedge,  Mrs. 
Elanwood,  in  rustling  silks  and  soft  white  lace,  her  hair 
agleam  with  scarlet  salvia  buds,  flitted  across  the  ve- 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  1Y3 

raiKla,  clown  the  steps,  and  out  upon  the  lawn,  to  meet — • 
psha  !  that  the  General  I — that  stout,  broad-chested  man, 
Avhose  resolute  beariiig  is  attenn^ered  by  an  expression 
of  the  most  winning  and  gx'nial  humor ;  who  looks  the 
very  personation  of  Hail-fellow-well-met  to  any  and  all 
he  might  deem  worth  the  meeting — a  practised  shrew- 
tamerl — never  !  .nnless — well — it  is  the  snnthat  oftenest 
disroljcs  the  traveller  of  his  cloak,  and  it  is  only  on  rare 
occasions  that  surly  Boreas  successfully  copes  with  his 
more  ardent  rival. 

The  haughty  mistress  of  Laurenstein  bovred  before  her 
liege  lord  with  gently  submissive  grace — aye,  bowed 
nntil  the  scarlet  salvia  buds  touched  his  shoulder-knot, 
but  she  spoke  not  a  word  save,  "  At  last !  oh  Guy  !" 

When  she  raised  her  head  there  were  tears  on  her 
cheek  ;  I  did  not  think  it  had  been  in  those  proud  eyes 
to  weep. 

They  passed  so  near  the  bench  on  which  I  sat  that  I 
conld  accurately  note  every  change  in  his  aspect,  every 
turn  of  his  voice. 

''  I  had  purposed  spending  a  couple  of  days  in  going 
over  the  plantation  with  you,"  said  he  ;  ''  but  found  it 
impossible  in  the  present  condition  of  our  forces  to 
make  arrangements  for'  so  long  an  absence ;  I  must 
leave  you  in  an  hour." 

''  Only  an  hour,  Guy,  when  you  have  been  such  an 
age  away  !" 

Homesick  and  heartsick,  I  hobbled  back  to  my 
chamber. 

Only  an  hour  !  O  Minnie,  what  would  I  not  give 
for  but  five  minutes'  speech  with  you  ? — for  one  sight  of 
your  face,  one  sound  of  your  voice,  if  yielded  in  assur- 
ance of  unswerving  truth  and  constancy  ! 

It  was  nearly  mKlnight,  and  I  had  not  slept.  ^  Sweet 
strains  of  music  floated  in  through  the  grated  windows, 
while   ine  rich,  deep  tones  of  men's   voices,  mingled 


174:  THE    RIVAL    VOLU^'TEEES  ;    OR, 

with  the  lighter  cadence  of  flute  and  viol.  I  arose  and 
set  my  door  ajar. 

''  Adrienne,"  called  !R[is3  Hohncs  at  her  niece's  door, 
"some  of  the  neiglibors  having  come  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  General,  and  finding  him  gone,  have 
decided,  it  seems,  to  compliment  you  -with  a  serenade. 
Will  you  go  down  and  speak  with  them  ?" 

''  I  will,''  was  the  prompt  reply,  "  and  that  to  some 
purpose,  or  I  do  much  mistake  myself." 

Cnrions  to  hear  what  she  would  say,  I  dressed 
hastily  ;  and  crossing  the  landing,  stepped  out  upon  the 
balcony  commanding  a  view  of  the  arcade,  where,  as 
nearly  as  I  could  judge,  some  twenty  men  were  assem- 
bled. Mrs.  Elanwood  glided  amongst  them  with  reso- 
lute step,  demeanor  firm  and  digniried,  not  a  trace  of 
color  on  her  olive  cheek,  but  her  eyes  brilliantly  aglow 
with  the  fire  of  the  eager  impulse  that  hurried  her  on. 
She  stood  directly  beneath  the  colored  lantern  sus- 
pended from  an  arch,  so  that  I  could  distinctly  perceive 
her  robe's  silken  sheen,  and  the  scarlet  buds  in  her 
raven  hair. 

"  It  is  on  no  grateful  errand  I  come  to  you,  gentle- 
men," slie  began,  in  those  low,  emotional  tones  which, 
carrying  with  them  the  conviction  of  earnest  sincerity 
and  deep  feeling,  go  straight  from  the  heart  of  the 
sj)eaker  to  that  of  the  listener.  '*  In  ordinary  times  I 
snould  welcome  you  to  the  best  cheer  Laurenstein  has 
power  to  confer  on  the  guests  it  holds  in  high  esteem ; 
but  bear  Avith  me,  I  do  beseech,  kind  friends,  Lauren- 
stein aliords  but  cold  comfort  to  its  mistress  now,  and 
of  such  as  I  have  not,  of  that  can  I  not  give  unto 
thee. 

''  I  have  no  heart  to  listen  to  tlie  soft  discourse  of 
Bweet  music,  thereby  beguiling  my  wakeful  hours  of 
the  deep  depression  that  drives  sleep  from  my  pillow, 
when  strains  as  sweet,  but  sad,  sacl^  daily  wail  forth 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  1T5 

mournful  dirge  over  the  graves  of  the  "brave  and  early- 
fallen — when  I  cannot  tell  how  soon  such  dirge  may 
sound  in  parting  honor  of  one  whose  life  is  as  dear  to 
me  as  is  my  own. 

"  I  know  that  this  must  seem  to  you  but  churlish  and 
ungracious  return  for  the  kindly  purpose  that  brought 
you  here ;  but  can  I  permit  n:iyself  recreation  while 
those  I  love  are  enduring  danger,  privation,  and  death, 
in  camp  and  field?  Shall  I  sit  in  silken  ease  and 
luxury,  vrhile  they  toil'  day  and  night,  with  head,  heart, 
and  hand,  in  furtherance  of  our  young  nation's  cause  ? 
Shall  I  give  my  hours  to  vain  musings,  to  fond  regrets, 
seeking  in  music  delicious  consolement  for  every  anx- 
ious ill  ?  ISTot  so  ;  still  let  my  harp  rest,  as  long  it  hath 
rested,  in  idle  disuse  against  the  wall,  and  spiders  alone 
find  pastime  in  the  cobwebbed  cover  of  my  guitar. 

"  With  my  weak  hand,  and  faint,  timorous  spirit,  I 
cannot  brave  the  dangers  of  gory  battle-field,  and 
snatch  from  Mars'  grim  front  the  immortal  laurels 
which  only  heroes  wear ;  not  for  cowardly  woman's 
brow  the  victor's  wreath,  the  conqueror's  crown ;  but 
bear  me  witness,  that  what  I  could  do  by  w^ay  of  aid 
and  comfort  has  been  freely  done  ;  and  of  such  as  I  had 
to  bestovv^  have  I  given  with  no  niggard  hand.  Xo 
requisition  on  my  time  or  toil  have  I  deemed  too  bur- 
densome for  prompt  and  cheerful  compliance.  My 
choicest  possessions,  my  ceaseless  endeavors,  my  most 
untiring  energies,  have  I  freely  rendered  in  promotion 
of  the  cause  which  is  uppermost  in  all  my  thoughts. 
Of  my  poor  best  naught  have  I  grudgingly  withheld. 
You,  gentlemen — of  your  superior  ability,  can  you  say 
as  much  ? 

''  I  know  how  gaily  the  troubadour,  in  days  of  old. 
Bang  roundelay  to  ladye-fayre,  but  it  was  on  his  return 
from  the  war,  not  while  the  heel  of  the  oppressor  was 
still  pressed  firmly  on  his  country's  neck.     Come  to  me 


176  THE   rJVAL   TOLUNTEEnS  ;    OE, 

as  triiiinpliaiit  conquerors  of  a  vandal  foe,  and  I  will 
greet  you  in  far  other  words  than  these.  Conquer  for 
us  the  peace  that  shall  give  us  the  right  to  sit  secure  in 
the  shadow  of  vine  and  fig-tree,  doing  as  we  will  with 
our  own,  no  longer  cursed  by  that  pharisaical  anathema, 
'  Stand  aside,  I  am  holier  than  thou,'  and  1  will  meet 
you  with  eager,  grateful  welcome,  with  goodly  cheer,  the 
harp's  liquid,  mellow-dropping  tones,  and  all  joyous  de- 
monstrations of  festal  mirth  and  gladness.  ISTot  so  fast ; 
I  spoke  but  now  of  goodly  cheer,  forgetting  how  rapidly 
our  substance  is  melting  away  beneath  war's  consuming 
blaze,  ^ay;  what  matters'^  it  though  I  h'dvc  but  ii 
dinner  of  herbs  to  set  before  you  ?  better  that  and  lovo 
therewith,  than  a  stalled  ox  and  this  fierce  sectional 
hatred  withal. 

''  Bethink  you,  fellow-townsmen,  that  the  world  stands 
ready  to  note  your  every  deed  of  lofty  prowess  and 
daring  valor ;  and  let  your  deeds  come  up  to  the 
high  standard  worthy  to  win  a  world-wide  renown  and 
vindicate  your  boasted  chivalry.  JS'ever  give  our  noble 
and  magnanimous  ally  across  the  sea — an  ally  who  per- 
mits no  opportunity  to  pass  for  encouraging  us  by 
lavish  panegyric  while  persistently  vilifying  our  north- 
ern foes — cause  to  blush  for  tlie  belligerent  she  has 
honored  by  substantial  j^roof  of  her  friendly  sympa- 
thy. Let  us  deserve  the  invaluable  moral  support 
60  unflinchingly  accorded  us  by  a  people  of  kindred 
tongue  and  race,  who  have  so  faithfully  upheld  and 
justided  our  righteous  cause.  We  all  know  with  how 
much  greater  zeal  and  courage  a  work  is  undertaken 
and  pursued  when  fanned  by  the  breath  of  generous 
appruval  and  applause,  than  when  smothered  by  the 
wet  blanket  of  obloquy  and  opprobrium.  Why,  an  evil 
name  will  hang  a  dog;  and  if  die  Korth  has  not  gained 
an  ill  name  through  dogged  support  of  an  evil  cause,  it 
is   because   dirt  won't   stick,   for  she  has  been  pelted 


THE    BLACK    PLUME   KIFLES.  177 

with  all  shades  and  varieties  of  abusive,  infamous 
cpitliet. 

'•  Think,  too,  of  all  the  material  as  well  as  moral  aid 
we  have  received  from  our  grandly  liberal,  though  un- 
acknowledged ally.  What  loss  of  time  and  treasure 
has  she  not  risked  from  ihe  blockading  fleet  oif  our 
shores,  in  sending  to  us  through  tortuous,  unfrequented 
channels,  under  tlie  favoring  veil  of  niglit,  the  means 
and  munitions  we  could  ill  hav^e  spared,  and  could  not 
otherwise  have  obtained  ?  Our  medicine  chests  testify 
to  her  bounty  ;  our  stands  of  arms  as  well ;  our  heavy 
guns  and  many  a  deadly  projectile  that  has  sent  myriads 
of  meddlesome  Yankees  to  unshriven  graves. 

"  Countless  the  thanks  we  owe  to  this  great  and  dis- 
interested nation,  which,  generously  overlooking  our 
occasional  reverses  and  partial  defeats,  suffers  no  suc- 
cess that  crowns  our  efforts  to  go  unchronicled  or  un- 
praised.  With  the  glorious  and  invincible  champion 
of  civilization  enlisted  in  our  sacred  cause,  can  you. 
longer  hesitate  to  enliSt  yourselves  therein? 

"  Pardon  me  if  my  words  seem  scant  of  grace  and 
courtesy ;  come  to  Laurenstein  in  happier  times,  and 
you  sb.all  have  greeting  befitting  our  improved  condi- 
tion ;  till  then,  farewell." 

Without  awaiting  response  of  any  kind,  she  abruptly 
reentered  the  house,  and  I  heard  the  rustle  of  her  robes 
on  the  staircase.  It  was  her  own  hands  that  closed  and 
barred  the  window  through  which  I  had  made  egress, 
thus  fastening  me  out  upon  the  balcony.  I  remained 
quite  still  until  the  last  visitor  had  departed,  and  Mel- 
drone  had  extinguished  the  light  in  the  archway  lan- 
tern. 

I  was  debating  the  chances  of  escape  and  probabilities 
of  recapture.  By  making  knovrn  my  exclusion  from  the 
premises,  I  could  easily  return  to  the  comfortable  room, 
t]ie  luxurious  bed  from  which  I  had  recently  risen.     I 

8* 


1  7S  THE   RIVAL  VOLITXTEEES  ;    OK, 

admit  the  prospect  of  resuming  my  broken  repose  v^ag 
tempting.  I  ^viis  still  weak,  my  freslily-healed  wound 
often  irritable,  at  times  painful,  and  needed  the  care  and 
attention  I  was  liere  sure  of  receiving.  Yes,  sure,  but 
for  liow  long  a  period  ?  Just  so  long  as  suited  the  whim 
of  Laurenstein's  imperious  mistress,  not  another  hour. 
Should  I  hold  my  future  destiny  subject  to  a  woman's 
caprice  ?  the  more  especially  one  who  looked  upon  n^ 
as  a  dangerous  interloper,  who  might,  if  allowed  the 
boon  of  untrammelled  movement,  throw  incendiary 
torch  amongst  the  inflammable  material  which  her  own 
safety  damanded  that  she  should  take  stringent  j^recau- 
tions  to  sedulously  guard  against  such  malicious  de- 
signs !  Furthermore,  she  had  plainly  intimated  to  me 
that  I  was  only  to  remain  at  the  Heights  until  my 
health  was  fully  reestablished;  and  what  then?  A 
southern  jail,  with  its  pestilent  odors,  its  undisguised 
iilth,  its  disgusting  vermin,  its  fever-breeding  malaria 
of  respired  and  rerespired  human  breath,  and  its  ruf- 
fianly, brutal  guards.  Better  hea^n's  pure  air  than  the 
stifling  fumes  of  such  over-crowded  dens;  better  nature's 
wholesome  neglect  than  the  tender  mercies  given  with 
cruel  purpose. 

Ko  tie  of  honor  bound  me  to  Laurenstein ;  1  had  been 
absolved  from  my  parole  ;  I  would  go.  I  rose  fully  re- 
solved on  carrying  out  my  purpose.  Tlic  clank  of  the 
chain  I  wore  against  the  iron  railing  of  the  balcony 
aroused  me  to  what  I  had  half  forgotten,  a  vivid  sense 
of  my  own  hampered  condition.  I  sat  down  and  care- 
fully Vcconsidered  the  whole  matter,  ending  by  taking  a 
mental  inventory  of  my  entire  personal  effects.  Of  a 
strong  pair  of  serviceable  shoes,  with  stockings  to  match, 
I  was  right  glad  to  And  myself  the  possessor.  My  ne- 
ther integuments,  also,  thanks  to  the  General's  well-fllled 
wardrobe,  were  beyond  suspicion  of  rent  or  darn.  In 
pockets  to  same  I  found  a  strong  clasp  knife   and   a 


THE    BLACK    PLOIE    RIFLES.  179 

couple  of  handkerchiefs,  one  of  silk  and  one  of  linen. 
My  nnder-clothing  was  unexceptionable ;  and  in  the 
pocket  to  mj  grey  flannel  was  safely  stowed  this  little 
book  jou  are  now  reading,  with  interest  I  would  fain 
hope.  A  coat  of  blue  soldiers'  cloth,  with  cap  of  the 
same  material,  completed  my  outfit — a  scant  one,  you 
will  admit,  considering  the  forced  marches  I  had  re- 
solyed  to  undertake  ;  for  I  had  resolyed  to  risk  the 
chance  of  flight,  and  nothing  remained  for  me  saye  to 
employ  to  the  best  adyantage  the  limited  resources  at 
my  disposal. 

To  gain  the  terrace  below,  I  had  to  descend  fifteen 
feet,  by  an  iron  trellis,  about  which  a  prairie  rose  was 
closely  entwined.  To  do  this  without  the  iron  danglet  at 
my  ankle  disturbing  the  inmates  of  the  house  by  its 
noisy  clatter,  was  clearly  out  of  the  question.  Tearing 
in  two  my  linen  handkerchief,  I  coyered  the  ball,  and 
wound  the  chain  in  its  soft  folds.  Kext  I  fastened  one 
corner  of  my  bandanna  to  the  chain,  just  below  its  at- 
tachment to  the  pretty  bauble  forced  upon  my  wear, 
firmly  securing  the  other  to  my  belt. 

My  descent  was  more  painful  than  perilous,  as  my 
hands  were  seyerely  lacerated  by  the  sharp  thorns  of 
the  rose.  I  did  not  allow  such  a  trifle  as  this  to  delay 
my  departure  for  an  instant.  Shaping  my  course  by  the 
stars,  I  made  all  possible  haste  to  increase  the  space  be- 
tween Laurenstein  and  my  own  fugitiye  self  before  the 
early  dawn.  A  broad  stream  intercepted  my  way — a 
stream  whose  ordinary  volume  had  been  so  much  aug- 
mented by  recent  rains  that  it  was  no  longer  fordable. 
Swimming  was  not  to  be  thought  of ;  and  I  was  obliged 
to  seek  the  road  and  cross  a  bridge,  where  I  was  exposed 
to  imminent  danger  of  detection  through  the  portions 
still  retained  of  my  military  outfit.  A  rebel  sentinel 
shouted  at  me  from  a  distance,  which  call  I  received  as 
signal  for  taking  the  double-quick,  and  gaining  the  shel- 
ter -pf  a  stony  ridge. 


ISO 


on, 


In  the  course  of  the  forenoon,  I  came  across  a  lierd  of 
cows  quietly  browsing  on  a  secluded  liillside,  and  no- 
thing loatli,  prepared  to  hreak  my  fast  on  fiesli  lacteal 
supply.  Approaching  a  likely-looking  rpiadrni;ed,  with 
the  most  amiable  and  insinuating  demonstrations,  I 
seated  myself  at  her  right  in  approved  fashion,  and 
was  about  to  commence  the  milking  process,  when  the 
vicious  and  unreliable  bovine  female  left  me  sprawling 
on  my  back ;  and  the  last  I  saw  of  her,  she  was  clearing 
a  five-rail  fence,  with  her  hoofs  in  the  air  and  her  noso 
tending  earthward. 

The  sun  had  nearly  reached  the  zenith,  and  still  1  kept 
unwilling  fasf.  I  verily  .believe  that  there  is  no  whet  to 
appetite  like  lack  of  means  wherewith  to  appease  the 
same.  A  man  in  a  fenced  inclosure  was  se;ting  out  a 
bed  of  onions,  of  wdiicli  he  had  a  plentiful  supply  in  re- 
serve. I  prophesied  that  on  liis  return  from  dinner  he 
would  find  his  supply  decreased.  With  impatience,  for 
the  goadings  of  hunger  are  not  promotive  of  the  milder 
virtues,  I  awaited  his  departure,  which  came  in  due  tiiric. 
He  took  his  gun,  but  left  my  coveted  fare.  Kot  mine 
so  soon  as  I  thought.  I  was  about  venturing  forth  from 
cover,  when  the  on  ion-plant  lt  drew  a  tin  pail  from  a 
cypress  clunlp,  and  seating  himself  on  a  knoll  in  full 
view  of  the  prize  on  obtaining  which  I  had  so  confi- 
dently reckoned,  commenced  munching  his  noontide 
meal.  This  untoward  combination  of  opposing  forces 
necessitated  the  adoption  of  a  fresh  system  of  tactics  on 
my  part.  I  waited  the  man's  return  to  his  labor,  and 
then,  by  slow  and  cautious  approach,  made  my  way  to 
the  cypress  clump,  where  I  gained  possession  of  the  din- 
ner-pail, and  won  a  second  ])rize,  in  the  form  of  a  flint 
he  must  have  dropped,  proving  tliat  it  was  an  old-fash- 
ioned flint-lock  shooting-iron  he  carried. 

On  bacon  and  bread  I  lunched  vrith  gusto,  and,  much 
refreshed,  resumed  my  tramp,  feeling  tlie  charm  of  the 
loving,  vagrant  life  I  led;  lacking  only  the  friend  to 


THE  BLACK  PLU:ME  EIFLES.  181 

"svliom  I  would  fain  have  whispered,  "  How  sweet  is 
solitude !" 

I  walked  nearly  the  whole  of  the  ensuing  night,  only 
resting  a  couple  of  hours  toward  daybreak.  As  soon  as 
it  was  sufficiently  light  to  do  so,  I  extracted,  to  the  best 
of  my  ability,  the  rankling  thorns' from  my  hands. 

The  life  of  a  vagrant  did  not  seem  quite  so  alhiring, 
now  that  I  v/as  at  my  wits'  ends  to  devise  means  for  pro- 
curing a  morsel  of  tbod. 

I  was  about  to  turn  aside  from  my  course  to  avoid  a 
small  lonely  hut,  when  its  door  opened  and  a  large- 
framed,  masculine  looking  woman,  strode  forth,  hatchet 
in  hand,  and  after  proceeding  a  short  distance  to  the 
rear  of  her  humble  abode,  began  chopping  some  dry 
brushwood  and  binding  the  same  into  fagots.  She  had 
left  the  door  open  behind  her ;  and  the  opportunity  for 
reconnoissance  was  too  good  to  be  lo^t.  I  made  cautious 
advances  and  narrowly  scanned  the  premises.  Not  a 
living  creature  within,  save  a  purring  tabby  stretched 
before  the  fire  upon  the  hearth.  I  entered  without  hesi- 
tation. A  hoe-Cctke  was  baking  on  a  shingle  placed  at 
a  proper  angle  of  declination  before  the  glovring  hard- 
wood embers.  Without  one  compunctious  twinge  for 
depriving  an  unofiending  human  female  of  her  break- 
fast, into  my  tin  pail  I  slid  the  hoe-cake,  and  looked 
about  for  any  additional  supplies  that  might  be  forth- 
coming. A  bottle  of  goose  oil  I  courteously  declined ; 
but  lest  I  should  seem  insensible  to  the  hospitality  of 
mine  involuntary  hostess,  I  stuffed  my  coat  pockets 
with  a  bountiful  supply  of  cream  cheese,  and  drained  a 
bumper  from  the  milk-pan.  A  bowl  of  yeast  and  basin 
of  tallow  drippings  I  also  passed  by  without  exacting 
contribution  therefrom  ;  but  for  this  neglect  I  amply 
atoned  by  deluging  my  hoe-cake  with  the  contents  of 
the  maple-sugar  jug,  and  pocketing  a  handful  of  savory 
muriate  from  the  salt-celhir. 


182  THE   RIVAL   VOLTTNTF^EKS  ;    OE, 

I  was  startled  by  the  sudden  clatter  of  falling  metal — 
it  was  only  the  frightened  cat,  wliich  had  thrown  down 
shovel  and  tongs  in  the  hurry  of  escape — and  decamped 
with  my  booty.  ]S'ei<"her  that  day,  nor  the  first  half  of 
the  next,  was  I  under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  re- 
newing my  supplies.  My  last  crumb  of  cheese  disap- 
peared for  Sunday's  breakfast ;  and  as  evening  shades 
drew  on  I  grew  desperate  in  my  search  for  some  means 
ot*  satiating  the  ravenous  hunger  gnawing  at  my  vitals. 

Little  did  I  think,  when  I  used  to  read  in  the  daily 
2:>iints,  with  most  lofty  and  unmitigated  contempt,  of 
the  depredations  committed  by  paltry  chicken-roost 
thieves,  that  your  most  humble  and  most  devoted  would 
ever  be  included  in  category  so  despicable.  But  even 
so  has  it  come  to  pass ;  and  I  have  therefrom  educed 
this  moral :  Xever  look  with  pharisaical  contempt  upon 
sinning  publican,  until  you  have  been  tried  in  the  same 
school  of  experience,  and  from  such  trial  come  out 
scathless.  I  can  do  better  than  some  of  these  needy 
wretches  who  must  beg,  starve  or  steal — namely,  plead 
in  exculpation  of  my  offence.  • 

If  the  world  did  not  owe  me  a  living,  and  I  am  not 
prepared  to  assert  or  substantiate  any  special  claims  on 
its  bounty,  Eebeldom  did,  in  return  for  cheating  me  out 
of  a  handsome  salary,  and  reducing  me  to  the  condition 
of  a  penniless  wanderer  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  If 
they  had  cheated  me,  hadn't  I  as  good  a  right  to  re- 
taliate as  they  to  transgress  the  common  rules  of  honesty  ? 
Kow  don't  be  hyperlogical,  and  ask  how  two  wrongs 
make  a  right,  and  knock  my  argumentative  stilts  from, 
under  me.  Assuredly,  if  it  be  an  easy  matter,  as  sages 
admit,  to  set  forth  plausible  arguments  in  support  of 
foregone  conclusions,  I  can  frame  better  vindication  than 
the  above. 

I  see  where  my  mistake  has  lain — in  trusting  to  plain 
and  homely  phrase  rather  than  the  varnish  of  elegant, 


THE   BLACK  PLITME   EIFLES.  183 

polished  epithet.  What  man  of  high  social  standing 
likes  to  be  termed  a  speculator  in  the  fancies,  while  a 
heavy  operator  in  the  stock-jobbing  line  hasabont  it  the 
ring  of  the  true  coin  of  respectability  ?  I  will  not  stoop 
to  tlie  petty  criminality  of  robbing  a  hen-roost;  but  a 
soldier  in  an  enemy's  territory  must,  as  a  simple  matter 
of  necessity,  forage  for  his  subsistence — a  self-evident 
truth ;  I  \vill  not  villainously  poach  upon,  but  I  will 
most  respectably  forage,  my  neighbor's  preserves.  My 
theory  thus  satisfactorily  disposed  of,  under  the  conve- 
nient rule  of  military  necessity,  I  proceed  with  serene 
self-approval  to  record  the  practical  workings  of  the 
same. 

As  I  said,  the  deepening  shades  of  twilight  were  cur- 
taining the  western  skies.  An  unpretending  farm-house 
was  half  concealed  by  tall  cottonwood  trees,  Avhile  on  a 
low-branched  cypress  roosted  a  score  or  so  of  domestic 
fowls.  I  waited  until  every  light  had  disappeared  from 
the  windows  before  attempting  the  execution  of  my  plan. 
A  lusty  chanticleer  I  singled  out  as  my  prize.  Evi- 
dently the  stupid  bird  was  attached  to  his  native  soil, 
and  did  not  relisti  the  idea  of  having  the  Confiscation 
Act  carried  into  effect  on  his  own  behoof,  and  was 
plainly  inclined  to  show  fight,  giving  me  an  ugly  dig 
with  his  spur  that  roused  my  pluck  and  made  me  bent 
on  securing  him  at  any  cost  short  of  my  own  capture. 
Grasping  him  firmly  by  both  legs  I  swung  him  olf  his 
perch. 

As  if  from  pure  spite,  he  set  up  a  series  of  the  direst 
squawkings  possible  for  a  feathered  throat  to  emit.  I 
stopped  that  fun  by  a  skilful  turn  of  the  wrist,  but  not 
until  the  mischief  had  been  done  according  to  the  de- 
sign of  the  defunct  fowl. 

The  door  of  the  house  opened,  a  man's  voice  cried, 
"  Speak  to  liim,  Growler,"  and  an  overgrown  mongrel 
cur  leaped  upon  my  track. 


184  THE   RIVAL   TOLrXTEERS  ;    OR, 

Catching  a  bludgeon  from  the  wood-pile,  I  started  oil 
on  a  run  ;  but  an  instant's  reflection  convinced  nie  tliat 
ir  was  folly  to  think  of  out-distancing  such  a  ])nrsuer;  I 
turned  suddenly  and  faced  the  ferocious  brute,  which 
nuide  a  spring  lor  my  throat.  Avoiding  the  same  by  a 
backward  volt,  I  brought  my  club  down  on  his  skull 
to  such  good  purpose  that  he  dropped  senseless  for  an 
instant,  and  then  slunk  howling  away  toward  the 
house. 

A  musketball  whizzing  past  showed  that  I  was  not 
yet  safe  from  pursuit,  lleacliing  the  crest  of  a  hill,  I 
rolled  down  its  02:)posite  side,  and  on  gaining  the  foot  of 
the  descent,  crept  along,  veiling  my  progress  by  a  young 
growth  of  Cottonwood  on  the  river  bank.  ]N"ot  until  I 
liad  put  miles  of  space  between  myself  and  the  pilfered 
hen-roost,  did  I  dare  to  flatter  myself  that  I  should  be 
permitted  to  enjoy  the  feast  I  liad  risked  so  much  in 
purloining. 

While  the  darkness  lasted  I  dared  make  no  attempt 
at  lighting  a  fire,  lest  the  smoke  arising  therefrom  should 
betray  my  whereabouts  to  some  lurking  foe  still  dogging 
my  steps.  Daybreak  found  me  travei-sing  a  precipitou's 
bluff  overhanging  the  river.  From  crag  to  crag  I  let 
myself  down  toward  the  water's  edge.  Ben'eath  a  beetling 
cliff  projecting  far  over  the  stream,  I  safely  crept,  hug- 
ging myself  with  the  sense  of  security  its  shelter  afforded. 
Preparations  for  my  morning  rej)ast  were  entered  upon 
witii  a  zest  of  which  the  dwellers  in  stated  habitations 
can  form  but  a  feeble  conception. 

By  the  aid  of  my  flint,  punk-wood  with  which  I  had 
filled  one  pocket,  and  dry  twigs  and  branches,  I  had 
soon  a  crackling  fire,  in  front  of  which  I  suspended,  by 
a  twisted  willow  withe,  the  plucked  fowl  in  readiness 
for  the  occasion.  My  tin-pall  served  as  dripping-pan, 
the  salt  with  which  1  had  provided  myself  in  case  of 
contingency  came  not  amisb ;  and  but  brief  time  elapsed 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    KIFLES.  185 

before  my  olfactories  ^ere  greeted  with  gratefully  appe- 
tizing odors. 

JSeciire  from  molestation,  Tvitli  a  supply  of  creature 
comforts  sufficient  for  my  immediate  need,  rest,  peace 
and  plenty,  the  blessings  that  crovv^ned  the  hour,  my 
heart  expanded  in  deep  thankfulness  to  the  Giver  of  all 
these  mercies.  Do  not  make  the  mistake  of  supposing 
that  I  was  perfectly,  or  even  approximatively  content 
with  the  condition  in  which  I  found  myself,  when  I  was 
only  relatively  so — thankful  that  things  were  no  worse. 
In  this  transitional  period  of  our  being,  where  hope  and 
aspiration  are  amongst  our  choicest  pleasures  ;  if,  all  our 
longings  satisfied,  we  had  no  blessings  to  crave  for  the 
future,  palled  to  satiety  by  the  good  gifts  of  this  life, 
what  greater  boon  than  speedy  release  from  the  "  fitful 
fever"  Avhich  for  ns  would  be  over?  Pardon  my  ser- 
monizing ;  it  was  morn  of  Sabbath  rest  to  me ;  and  in 
the  restless  onflow  of  the  unquiet  waters  hurrying  on- 
ward to  meet  the  turbulent  sea,  in  whose  mighty  em- 
brace they  are  borne  over  mountain  wave,  in  t'oam- 
capped  crest  to — calm  haven  of  rest ! — no  ;  to  be  dashed, 
spent  and  helpless,  upon  a  foreign  shore,  and  by  it  be 
thrust  back  with  the  ebbing  tide  destined  to  lave  the 
borders  of  another  continent — I  found  my  text. 

I  started  to  tell  you  one  special  reason  for  my  lack  of 
content.  I  was  so  lame  that  walking  was  a  burdensome 
efibrt ;  and  this  fact  weighed  heavily  on  my  spirits, 
forcibly  reminding  me  of  the  severe  and  protracted  suf- 
ferings I  had  undergone  when  languishing,  untended 
and  alone,  beneath  the  whispering  pines  that  seemed  as 
sorrow-stricken  as  myself.  The  wounded  leg  had  be- 
come painful  through  over-use.  and  against  the  other, 
just  above  the  knee,  the  eight-pound  ball  had  knocked, 
as  I  ran,  until  the  flesh  was  black  and  blue,  and  the 
muscles  so  weak  and  strained  as  to  be  scarcely  fit  for 
active  service.     I  racked  my  brain  in  attempts  to  devise 


186  THE    lUYAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OE, 

some  metliod  for  ridcling  myself  of  the  cncumbranco 
svliicli  proved  sucli  a  serious  clog  to  all  my  movements. 
With  a  stone  I  tried  to  break  the  lock  of  the  iron  band, 
and  only  succeeded  in  half  breaking  an  ankle  bone. 
"With  a  piece  of  rougli-edged  qnartz  I  rasped  away  with 
a  Avill  at  tlie  chain  and  j^roduced  not  the  slightest  im- 
jn'ession.  Finding  my  eiforts  fruitless  I  desisted  there- 
from, philosophically  determining  to  make  the  best  of 
matters  I  could  not  mend. 

After  breakfasting  luxuriously,  I  lay  down  on  a  conch  of 
diy  twigs,  and  lulled  by  the  soothing  sweep  and  plash 
of  the  dreamy  waters,  slept  soundly.  It  lacked  scarcely 
more  than  an  hour  of  noon  when  I  awoke.  With  re- 
n'ewed  courage  I  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  bluff;  and 
ignoring,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  awkward  limp  in  my 
gait,  resumed  my  forward  tramp. 

^'  Providence  still  holds  me  in  its  kindly  keeping,"  I 
said  to  myself,  as  I  heard  the  clink  of  a  blacksmith's 
hammer,  and  caught  sight  of  the  sparks  rising  from  his 
forge. 

I  had  not  long  to  wait  before,  casting  aside  his  leather 
apron,  he  donned  a  decent  coat,  and  started  in  the 
direction  of  the  smoke-wreaths  I  saw  curling  upward 
through  the  trees  at  no  great  distance. 

I  hastened  to  improve  the  opportunity  created  by  his 
absence.  Minutes  were  precious,  and  1  lost  several 
searching  vainly  for  the  iniplement  my  purpose  re- 
quired ;  I  was  successful  at  last.  Placing  my  foot 
beside  the  top  of  the  anvil,  with  a  few  bold  hammer- 
strokes  I  drove  the  cold  chisel  nearly  through  the  chain, 
close  to  my  ankle,  and  twisting  off  the  remaining  por- 
tion of  the  link,  turned  exulting  in  my  freedom — turned 
to  feel  the  grasp  of  brawny  arms  upon  my  shoulders  ; 
to  be  thrust  summarily  forward  into  a  closet  lighted 
only  through  the  warped  seams  of  its  roughly-boarded 
walls,  while  its  soot-smouched  floor  was  littered  with 


THE   BLACK   PLUME    PJFLES.  187 

the  nondescript  odds  and  ends  nsually  to  be  found  in 
this  sort  of  smith ery. 

A  heavy  T3olt  was  turned  in  the  lock  ;  and  plenty  of 
time  was  given  me  to  reflect  on  tlie  nature  of  the  new 
position  in  Y/hieh  I  so  unexpectedly  found  myself.  The 
prospect  was  not  encouraging ;  but  I  am  naturally  of 
sanguine  temperament,  and  was  by  no  means  inclined 
to  despair.  Let  the  smith  be  called  away  from  tlie 
shop,  for  ever  so  brief  a  period,  and  I  would  try  the  effi- 
cacy of  sledge-hammer  blows  on  the  boarding,  old  and 
brittle,  of  this  impromptu  lock-up.  The  words  of  a 
speaker  outside  strengthened  my  resolve  to  improve  to 
the  utmost  the  first  opportunity  for  escape.  I  jot  down 
his  remarks. 

"  I  say,  Daggett,  where  is  the  use,  when  provisions 
are  so  scarce  and  high,  where  is  the  use  of  wasting  our 
substance  on  these  northern  locusts  that  are  swarming 
all  over  our  land.  Where  is  the  use  of  taking  the  bread 
out  of  our  childrens'  mouths  to  put  into  those  of  these 
bloody-minded  Hessians  !  Our  minister — let  him  preach 
mercy  and  good  works,  he  is  paid  to,  and  can  afford  to 
cant  for  his  hire — came  to  me  with  a  paper  and  wanted 
me  to  put  down  something  for  the  sick  prisoners  in  jail. 
'  Xot  a  red,'  says  I,  '  do  you  get  out  of  me.  We  don't 
want  any  prisoners  ;  and  the  sooner  they  are  under  the 
ground  the  better.'  What  I  said  to  him,  I  say  to  all. 
Kot  one  that  falls  into  my  clutch  shall  ever  escape  to 
tell  the  tale.  The  malignants  outnumber  us,  and  we 
must  outmanceuvre  them  until  we  are  numerically  their 
equals.  Mercy  to  them,  now,  is  cruelty  to  ourselves  ; 
and  I'd  slay  my  own  son  if  I  caught  him  oftering  so 
much  as  a  cup  of  cold  water  for  their  aid  and  comfort." 

You  will  readily  perceive  that  vindictive  expressions 
like  the  above  vrere  but  ill  calculated  to  add  to  my  com- 
fort. Comers  and  goers  came  and  went ;  and  steadily 
sounded  the  clink  of  the  smith's  hammer  through  the 


188  THE    RIVAL   YOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

long  liours  of  tli.it  dreary  afternoon.  It  was  nearly 
niglitlall  wlien  tlic  blast  at  the  forge  and  thej-ing  of  the 
anvil  ceased.  The  lad  who  had  been  blowing  the  bel- 
lows was  dismissed.  The  heavy  onter  doors  were  swung 
together  and  hasped  inside.  ^To  what  did  all  this  pre- 
paration tend  ?  Was  I  to  meet  foul  end  in  that  foul 
den,  and  be  put  under  ground  with  the  least  possible 
delay  ?  I  would  defend  myself  to  the  last  extremity  ; 
but  the  remembrance  of  the  bravrny  ligure  that  had  so 
easily  overpowered  and  forced  me  into  durance  vile  was 
not  a  reassuring  one.  I  am  not  ashamed  to  own  that 
Biy  heart  beat  a.  little  more  quickly  as  I  heard  the  heavy 
step  of  my  captor  approaching  my  cell.  The  strong  bolt 
was  turned  back  in  its  lock.  I  grasped  a  bar  of  iron, 
determined  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  The  door 
swung  open,  and  I  saw  for  the  first  time,  by  the  light 
of  the  lantern  he  bore,  tbe  face  of  my  captor — as  open 
and  honest  a  face  as  one  would  care  to  look  upon. 

"  I  had  to  be  a  trifle  rough,  or  it  would  have  been  all 
over  with  you  by  this  time,"  he  said,  with  grulf  hearti- 
ness of  tone  and  manner.  "  Throw  down  your  weapon 
— you  see  I  p.m  unarmed — and  then  we  can  treat  on 
equal  terms." 

Fearing  treachery,  and  dreading  to  be  taken  una- 
wares, I  hesitated  to  comply  with  his  request. 

"  You  misdoubt  me,  which  is  a  kind  of  treatment  Eli 
Buckvv'ood  isn't  given  to  putting  up  witli,  from  friend 
or  foe  ;  but  being  a  stranger,  and  not  knowing  that  my 
reputation  for  fair  and  honorable  dealing  is  as  good  as 
that  of  any  other  man,  I  don't  care  who  he  is.  Til  let  it 
pass  for  what  it's  worth.  Hold  on  to  your  knock-down 
argument,  if  it  eases  your  feelings,  and  come  out  to  this 
bench  where  we  can  have  a  talk." 

Disarmed  of  suspicion  by  the  candor  of  his  bearing,  I 
abandoned  the  defensive,  and  took  the  seat  to  which  he 
pointed  me. 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  189 

"  I  Lave  been  shoeing  horses  all  the  afternoon,"  he 
explained,  "  for  tlie  Lone-sta.r  Rangers  ;  and  if  they  had 
once  caught  a  sight  of  that  frontlet  on  jour  cap,  or  that 
stamp  on  yonr  buttons,  salt  wouldn't  have  saved  you. 
It  don't  do  to  show  Federal  colors  here,  young  man, 
tliough  my  lieart  warms  tovrard  the  old  flag  whenever 
I  see'it.  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  said  as  much  as 
that,  for  I  am  the  only  Unionist  in  the  neighborhood  ; 
my  own  sons,  even,  are  in  the  rebel  army,  and  their 
mother  sides  with  them.  Tell  me  how  and  why  yon 
are  here,  and  I  will  do  the  best  I  can  for  yon." 

I  related  to  him  the  occurrences  that  had  brought  me 
to  so  sorry  a  plight,  in  far  fewer  words  than  I  have 
used  in  describing  the  same  to  yon. 

He  soon  removed  the  iron  band  from  my  anlde,  and 
then  led  the  way  to  a  stable  at  the  rear  of  his  dwelling. 

"  I  would  offer  yon  my  spare  bed  with  right  good 
will,"  said  he  ;  "  only  I  couldn't  do  so  without  Mrs. 
Buckwood's  knowledge,  and  it  is  always  safer  not  to 
take  a  woman  into  a  man's  counsels  where  life  and 
death  depend  on  keeping  a  secret.  You  had  better  get 
into  this  covered  cart  and  make  no  noise  until  you  hear 
from  me  again." 

In  less  tiian  an  hour  he  brought  me  some  supper  and 
an  old  coverlet. 

"  Eat  at  your  leisure,"  said  he,  '*  while  I  keep  guard 
outside." 

I  waited  no  second  bidding,  but  proceeded  to  discuss 
corn-bread  and  cold  sausage  with  as  keen  an  appetite  as 
though  I  had  not  fared  sumptuously  during  the  earlier 
half  of  the  day. 

On  the  hay-mow,  with  a  carriage  cusliion  as  pillow, 
I  found  a  comfortable  place  for  repose. 

I  must  have  slept  but  lightly,  for  I  was  fully  aroused 
from  my  slumbers  by  a  cltck  of  the  barn-door  latch. 
"  This  way,  Jim,""  said  a  cautious  voice  ;  "  and  don't 


190  THE    RIVAL   VOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

run  afoul  of  the  calf  and  set  old  Brindle  a-lowing,  or 
we  shall  liave  all  sorts  of  a,hullybaloo.  Blast  your  pic- 
ture, thai:  is  the  cow's  stanchion  you  arc  fuinblins^  at ; 
lead  your  ringboned  nag  into  this  stall,  can't  you  ?'' 

There  was  a  sound  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  planked 
floor,  after  whicli  the  speaker  resumed  : 

'•  Give  me  the  saddles,  and  I  will  put  them  into  the 
cart,  as  I  know  exactly  where  it  stands.  Kow  you  lit- 
ter down  the  horses — here  is  the  straw  on  the  barn- 
floor — and,  if  I  can  find  my  way  in  the  dark  to  the 
grain-chest  and  the  hay-mow,  we  need  not  disturb  the 
old  folks  till  morning." 

I  began  to  feel  an  interest  more  absorbing  than  agree- 
able relative  to  the  purposed  movements  of  these  new- 
comers. Strongly  disinclined  to  follow  the  course  pro- 
verbially attributed  to  misery,  of  making  strange  bed- 
fellows, I  preferred  rather  to  resign  my  berth  than  to 
share  it  with  any. 

Hastily  depositing  cushion  and  coverlet  on  top  of  the 
cart  cover,  1  pulled  up  the  hay  from  the  side  of  the 
barn  until  I  had  hollowed  out  a  space  sufficientl}^  large 
to  contain  a  single  person,  and  having  ensconced  my- 
self in  the  recess  thus  obtained,  I  drew  the  covering  of 
hay  about  me,  defying  the  machinations  of  all  midnight 
disturbers  of  balmy  rest.  Up  the  ladder  came  the 
unhallowed  interloper,  and  I  cringed  involuntarily  as 
the  tines  of  his  fork  sought  undesirable  propinquity  with 
the  shrinking  muscles  of — yours  truly.  Added  to  this 
cause  of  uneasiness  was  a  second,  quite  as  serious.  The 
finely  powdered  dust  arising  from  the  disturbed  con- 
tents of  the  mow  penetrated  throat  and  nostrils  to  such 
a  degree  that  I  had  almost  an  irrepressible  desire  to 
sneeze — an  inclination,  however,  which  yielded,  as  other 
ideas  supposed  to  be  irrepressible  have  and  will  yield, 
to  the  force  of  persistent  repression.  I  firmly  willed 
the  maintenance  of  silence,  and  silence  I  maintained. 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  191 

The  sound  of  receding  steps  on  the  ladder,  I  welcomed 
as  one  betokening  release  from  impending  danger. 

"All  right  now,  Jim,"  said  the  previous  speaker; 
"  the  back  window  is  always  left  unfastened  ;  we  will 
take  a  cold  snack  from  the  buttery,  and  1  could  find  my 
way  to  the  bed-room  under  the  eaves  if  it  were  too  dark 
to  see  my  hand  before  me." 

It  was  a  relief  to  be  left  once  more  in  undisputed  pos- 
session of  stable  precincts.  Throwing  off  my  stifling 
herbal  spread,  I  assumed  posture  as  comfortable  as  cir- 
cumstances would  admit,  and  once  more  addressed  my- 
self to  repose.  Sleep  was  blandly  poising  itself  with 
dreamy  pinion  on  my  eye-lids,  when  I  was  roused  to 
sudden  consciousness  bj  the  distinct  utterance  of  .a  single 
whispered  word — • 

"  Ellsmead." 

It  must  be  my  friend  the  smith,  thought  I,  as  to  none 
other  have  I  revealed  my  name.     Thus  it  proved. 

"  I  would  have  been  glad,"  said  he,  "  to  have  given 
you  the  advantage  of  a  good  night's  rest ;  but  it  is  not 
so  ordained.  My  plans  were  well  laid,  but  they  were  all 
brought  to  naught  by  the  unexpected  return — for  how 
long  a  stay  I  have  not  learned — of  my  son  and  a  young 
comrade  of  his.  Unbeknown  to  them,  I  heard  them 
slying  in  at  the  back  window,  rattling  away  at  the  knife- 
box  and  pickle-jar,  and  tip-toeing  up  the  staircase.  ^  Thej 
are  asleep  now,  for  I  passed  the  light  across  their  eyes 
without  their  even  blinking.  Ton  must  be  off  before 
they  wake,  as  I  wouldn't  be  answerable  for  the  conse- 
quences if  they  should  detect  me  harboring  a  sworn 
enemy  to  the  Confederacy.  Here  is  one  of  the  boys' 
caps,  which  you  had  better  wear  in  place  of  that  mili- 
tary tile,  which  mio^ht  serve  as  death-warrant  with  one 
of  our  fire-eaters,  rut  on  this  jerkin  of  mine,  too  ;  for, 
though  I  can't  say  much  in  praise  of  the  fit,  it  may  save 
you  a  closer  one  *^from  hempen  cravat.     The  lads  sleep 


1II2  TUK    KITAL    volunteers;    OR, 

soundly  after  tlieir  long  jannt,  I'll  warrant  you  ;  but  I'll 
run  no'risk  lor  all  that.  Go  out  to  the  bars  yonder  and 
wait  for  nic.  If  tlie  trampling  of  the  horses  should  dis- 
turb the  youngsters  they  will  find  no  one  but  me  to  deal 
with;'     ^ 

I  obeyed  without  question  or  comment. 

lie  soon  joined  me  at  tlie  appointed  rendezyous,  riding 
one  horse,  and  leading  a  second  which  he  signed  me  to 
mount.  A  ride  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  brought  us  to  a 
secluded  stone  cottage  which  gave  few  external  tokens 
of  occupancy.  A  sharp  summons  from  a  whip  handle 
brought  a  middle-aged  man  to  the  door. 

'•  Ah,  Buckwood,  it  does  me  good  to  see  you ;  come 
in,  and  let  me  make  you  welcome  to  a  bachelor's  fjire." 

"Thanks  for  your  hospitality;  but  I  must  be  home 
by  daybreak  or  I  shall  be  missed.  I  rode  over  to  ask 
you  to  add  another  to  the  many  good  turns  I  owe  you. 
This  young  man  belongs  to  tlie  Federal  ranks,  and  is 
anxious  to  rejoin  his  regiment.  Find  out  where  it  is 
(you  see  the  papers),  do  what  you  can  to  further  him  on 
bio  way,  and  consider  me  freshly  beholden  to  you." 

This  request  was  faithfully  complied  with. 

I  am  sitting,  now,  in  the  Rainsford  station  house, 
waiting  for  the  next  downward  train,  which  will  leave 
me  within  twenty  miles  of  the  garrison  where  our  divi- 
sion is  at  present  posted. 

I  wish  I  could  tell  you  how  to  direct  a  letter  to  me  ; 
for,  aside  from  a  sight  of  yourself,  nothing  would  so 
gladden  my  eyes  as  a  glimpse  at  that  dainty  caligraphy 
over  which  I  have  enacted  such  fondly  foolish  rhapsodies. 

I  will  write  you  again  at  the  earliest  opportunity  ;  but 
remember,  my  dear  girl,  that  a  soldier  in  the  field  has 
no  will  of  his  own,  but  is  wholly  at  the  command  of  his 
superior  officers.  Owing  to  the  fatigue  of  marches  and 
counter-marches,  the  restraint?  of  strict  military  disci- 
pline, and  the  thousand  vicissitudes  to  which  we  are  ex- 


THE    BLACK    FLUME   niFLES.  193 

poaocl,  -with  the  best  will  in  the  world,  I  may  be  imable 
to  convey  to  you  one  single  word  of  intelligence.  Do 
not  forget  this,  if  yon  should  fail  to  hear  from  nie  regu- 
larly. Iloj^e  for  tlie  best ;  look  not  for  clouds  while  the 
sky  is  blight ;  and  strive  to  so  live,  as  I,  Heaven  help- 
ing nie,  will  also  strive,  that,  thougli  we  should  miss  of 
liap[)iness  here,  the  immortal  Hereafter  should  yet  be 
ours.  See  how  I  linger  over  these  parting  words,  loath 
to  sever  the  last  faint  tie  binding  me  to  one  in  whom  I 
have  unshaken  trust. 


CHAPTEE  Xn. 


LOVE     IN     DISGUISE. 


Soft  tears  rained  over  Minnie's  face  as  she  concluded 
the  perusal  of  the  narrative  penned,  or  rather  peuciiled, 
in  her  behoof. 

"  He  would  not  place  in  me  such  unreserved  confi- 
dence," she  said  to  herself,  ''  if  he  were  not  v»'orthy  a 
ehnilar  confidence  in  return  ;  and  he  lias  it — in  life  or 
death,  he  has  my  undivided  trust.  I  never  can  lose 
Morland  as  I  lost  Mr.  Caruthers  ;  for,  even  if  he  should 
fall,  upholding  a  glorious  cause,  and  take  all  earthly  sun- 
light out  of  my  skies — 

'  It  i,4  not  fill  of  life  to  llvo,  nor  r.ll  of  dcr.th  to  die.'  " 

TTith  the  precious  manuscript  volume  beneath  her 
pillow,  slie  slept  soundly  for  a  brief  period  ;  and,  buoyed 
up  by  sweet  consciousness  of  unconfessed  support,  re- 
sumed, with  renewed  coui-age,  the  sober  burden  of  daih 
duty  it  was  hers  to  bear. 

9 


194  THE  PJVAL  volunteers;  oe, 

Days  meri]:ecl  into  weeks,  and  not  an  added  line  from 
Morland.  The  bitterness  of  hope  deferred  she  partially 
assuaged  by  self-framed  excuse  for  his  prolonged  silence. 
Postal  arrangements  were  not  always  to  be  depended 
upon.  He  might  liave  been  unexpectedly  ordered  to  a 
distant  field  of  service,  where  he  was  cut  oil  from  all 
facilities  for  communication  with  friends.  He  might,  as 
before,  be  keeping  a  diary,  whose  receipt  would  dissi- 
pate, on  the  instant,  the  shade  of  gloom  darkening  all 
lier  life.  At  all  events  he  had  bidden  her  hope  for  the 
best,  and  she  strove  to  comply  with  his  bidding,  taking 
up  her  appointed  tasks  meekly  and  uncomplainingly, 
although  with  scant  show  of  cheerfulness,  endeavoring 
to  inspire  in  others  the  peace  and  happiness  which  were 
strangers  to  her  own  breast.  If  a  letter  was  to  be  writ- 
ten in  the  sick-wards,  no  one  could  express  like  her  the 
unappeased  yearnings  of  friendship,  the  protracted 
severance  of  tenderer  ties  ;  for,  fresh  from  her  own 
heart's  bitterness,  she  drew  the  inspiration  enabling  her 
to  divine  another's  grief. 

Small  wonder  that  she  became  a  favorite  attendant 
amongst  the  patients  ;  for  no  voice  was  more  gentle,  no 
look  more  kindly,  no  hand  more  ready  for  any  and  every 
needful  service  than  that  of  the  pale  sad-eyed  girl  who 
strove  to  forget  her  own  sense  of  trial  in  ministering  to 
that  of  others. 

She  was  in  the  kitchen,  following  directions  from  the 
presiding  matron,  when  word  was  brought  the  latter 
that  callers  were  awaiting  her  in  the  small  room  set 
apart  for  the  reception  of  transient  visitors.  As  Mrs. 
Stanton  was  too  deeply  engaged  to  brook  interruption 
from  such  a  source,  Minnie  was  deputed  as  bearer  of 
explanations  and  apologies  for  the  non-appearance  of  the 
former. 

The  young  deputy  was  surprised,  on  entering  the  re- 
ception room,  at  finding  herself  face  to  face  with  Miss 


THE   BLACK    PLU2IE    r.IFLES.  195 

Lncj  Sears,  who  graciously  accepted  i\Irs.  Stanton's  ex- 
cuses, adding,  wich  persuasive  mien.  "I  think  I  have 
ah-eady  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  making  your  acquain- 
tance— Miss  Burr,  if  my  memory  serves  me  rightly." 

"AYe  met  at  Mrs.  Thornton's,"  assented  Minnie, 
shrinking  from  any  correction  of  the  speaker's  mistake 
regarding  her  name,  or,  indeed,  from  any  move  calcu- 
lated to  improve  their  acquaintance. 

"  Allow  me,  Miss  Burr,  to  present  my  friend,  Miss 
Lily  Barton,  and  our  obliging  escort,  Monsieur  Meurice." 

Minnie  exjDressed  a  gratification  not  profoundly  felt, 
and  received  appropriate  response  from  a  young  lady 
alert  of  movement,  of  manner  frank  and  unrestrained, 
and  of  speech  fluent  and  outspoken,  while  a  second 
acknowledgment  was  tendered  by  a  young  gentleman  in 
glossy  moustaches,  atrociously  perfumed  locks,  imimacu- 
late  primrose  kids,  and  with  a  certain  dainty  accent  of 
our  home-bred  idioms  betraying  his  foreign  extraction. 

Profuse  in  compliments  was  Mons.  Meurice ;  and, 
according  but  brief  abstracted  reply,  Minnie  turned  in 
time  to  see  Miss  Sears  touch  the  arm  of  her  friend  with 
her  parasol,  whereupon  the  two  exchanged  glances  of 
smiling  significance,  and  went  so  far  as  to  titter 
aloud. 

Surprised  and  indignant  at  this  exhibition  of  imper- 
tinent ill-breeding,  Minnie  met  the  same  by  a  look  of 
cold  inquiry  addressed  to  whoever  chose  to  answer  the 
same.     Miss  Barton  replied  : 

"We  must  seem  very  rude  to  you,  Miss  Burr;  and, 
pardon  us,  we  were  rude.  It  seems  so  very  odd  to  see 
one  so  young  in  a  plain  muslin  cap  such  as  thin-locked 
dowagers  and  antiqua-ted  spinsters  wear,  that  we  could 
but  smile  at  the  incongruity  of  the  effect.  It  is  like 
putting  new  wine  in  old  bottles — a  happy  simile  that, 
eh?  Mons.  Meurice?  Let  me  have  the  advantage  of 
youi'  cultivated  taste." 


19G  THE  KivAL  volunteehs;  or, 

"  Mademoiselle  does  me  too  much  honor.  T  presume 
not  to  venture  a  word  on  such  matters  when  the  arbiters 
most  gracious  and  most  charmingly  unappi'oacliahle 
through  our  less  ethereal  comprehensions  do  make  tiiem- 
S'jives  to  stoop  in  elucidation  of  theories  conflicting 
nouveUes^  ravisaantes.^'^ 

"That  is  just  jour  way,  Mons.  Meurice ;  we  ask 
what  you  think,  and  you  set  us  aside  with  a  comjui- 
ment,  which  is  more  easily  bestowed  than  a  reflection 
which  you  keep  for  those  worthy  the  gift." 

"  Ah  !  Heaven  !  I  am  in  despair.  IIow  have  I  so 
unfortunate  been  as  one  grand  false  step  to  make,  and 
ofiend  past  the  retrieve.  Make  me  to  see  the  way  of 
amend  that  I  do,  contrite,  seek  it  instantly  to  prome- 
nade." 

"  Don't  distress  yourself  about  her  nonsense,"  inter- 
jected Miss  Sears;  "Lily  is  only  trying  to  draw  you 
out,  she  was  so  delighted  with  your  discriminating 
admiration  of  those  lovely  coifi:\ires  at  Madame  Flan- 
cibel's." 

Monsieur  laid  his  hand  upon  his  left  waistcoat  pocket, 
and  professed  himself  enchanted  at  the  prospect  of  being 
drawn  and  quartered,  or  by  any  other  mode  of  excru- 
ciating torture,  to  be  made  to  subserve  the  lightest 
caprice  of  the  sex,  whose  frown  was  the  shadow  of 
Hades,  and  whose  smile  was  the  iris-hue  of  Paradise. 

'•  That  will  do,"  smilingly  responded  Miss  Lily. 
"  Your  protestations  and  abasement  are  so  evidently 
sincere,  that  the  ofl:ended  goddess  is  thereby  propiti- 
ated ;  the  more  readily  since  you  displayed  the  most 
unexceptionable  taste  in  selecting  for  me  tlie  head-dress 
of  orange  and  jet  which  you  pronounced  the  chef- 
d'Oiuvre  of  the  establishment." 

"  Treason,"  cried  Miss  Sears,  with  mock-tragic  air. 
'- Faithless  deceiver!  did  you  not  make  oath  that  the 
rose-colored  spangles  on  the  silver-wound  chenille  was 


THE    BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  197 

a  perfect  triumph  of  art,  and  llie  gem  of  the  collec- 
tion ?"  '     • 

'*Fcr  a  delicate  complexion,  pearly  vrhite,  only  tinted 
witli  pink,  in  truth,  yes.  For  a  brunette,  brilliant  con- 
trasts, gold  and  jet." 

"Tliank  yon.  I  am  nnusnally  particnlar  about  the 
oi-nan^.ents  1  pui'chased  to-day,  as  they  are  to  be  Vv'orn  to 
the  Lancers'  charity  ball,  where  I  shall  occupy  a  con- 
spicuous position,  as  principal  patroness  of  the  enter- 
tainment, in  which  the  claims  of  benevolence  and  of 
social  festivity  are  delightfully  harmonized.  Mr.  Caru- 
thers  has  generously  placed  Moiitalbon  Hall  at  our  dis- 
posal. We  have  issued  two  hundred  tickets,  gentlemen 
only  paying  for  admission,  which,  of  course,  they  will 
be  alad  to  prove  their  love  of  country  by  doing,  as  tlie 
net  proceeds  of  the  affair,  after  the  niusic  and  refresh- 
ments are  paid  for,  all  go  to  the  '  Gamble  xlddition 
Society.'  Kow  that  you  have  selected  my  head-dress, 
Arnaud,  you  must  plan  the  remainder  of  my  costume 
to  match.  Shall  I  wear  my  blue  moire  with  bands  of 
embossed  velvet  ?" 

"Decidedly  not;  moires  and  velvets  are  too  little 
ethereal  for  sylphs  to  float  in  through  mazy  dance. 
The  rose-pink  in  Mademoiselle's  cheek  is  enough  for 
color,  let  it  alone ;  heightening  will  not  it  improve,  and 
lowering  does  but  dim  its  native  bloom.  Coral  for  the 
lips,  carnation  for  the  cheeks,  sapphire  for  the  eyes,  and 
not  an  added  tint,  say  I." 

"  You  are  a  sad  flatterer,  Arnaud,"  said  Miss  Lucy, 
with  a  bhish  and  a  smile.  ''  You  have  not  yet  specified 
a  single  article  for  my  toilette." 

"  A  thousand  pardons ;  but  the  wearer  does  furnish 
theme  so  much  more  attractive  than  costume  the  most 
recherc/ie  that  I  marvellously  from  my  subject  do  find 
myself  beguiled  to  stray.  The  robe,  is  it  ?  of  which  you 
would  have  me  to  speak.     Something  light  and  airy  as 


198  THE   FvITAL   TOLrNTEERS  ;    OB, 

gossamer,  I  Tronld  advise,  ^itli  puffings  about  tlio 
slionlders  no  lieavier  than  the  breath  of  a  song,  or  the 
vibrations  of  '  El  Zepateado.'  " 

"  Yon  are  vague,  not  to  say  poetical.  Monsieur." 

''  My  tlienie,  Mademoiselle ;  all  the  fault  of  mj 
ther:ie.  Am  I  to  blame  that  there  are  some  so  essea- 
tially  poetic  of  inspiration,  that  mortal  may  not  ap- 
proach them  through  conveyance  of  plain  prose  speech  f 

"Tliere,  that  vvill  do,  Monsieur;  you  have  exerted 
yourself  quite  sufficiently  for  the  present.  I  will  mer- 
cifully grant  you  a  short  respite.  Shall  I  send  you  two 
or  three  complimentary  tickets  for  our  ball.  Miss  Burr? 
We  are  seriously  embarrassed  from  kick  of  gentlemen, 
so  many  have  enlisted  for  the  war;  you  may  have 
friends  who  would  like  to  attend  you." 

"  I  am  obliged  by  your  kindness,  of  whicli  it  is  impos- 
sible to  avail  myself." 

"  What  a  sliame  !  I  would  not  consent  to  be  made  a 
flight  of,  witli  poky  widows'  weeds,  and  a  higli-necked 
dress  like  a  Quaker,  for  all  the  prim  old  hospital  matrons 
that  ever  brcatlied." 

'•  You  mistake ;  Mrs.  Stanton  places  no  irksome 
restraint  on  my  movements.  I  have  become  so  accus- 
tomed to  sights  and  sounds  of  sufiering  here,  to  descrip- 
tions and  apprehensions  of  it  elsewhere,  that  it  would 
but  sadden  me  the  more  to  go  where  others  are  gay. 
Here  is  my  post  of  duty,  and  here  will  I  remain,  thank- 
ful to  bear  my  poor  part  in  the  country's  sorrow." 

'•  We  are  as  ready  to  do  our  part  as  anybody  else," 
asserted  Miss.  Sears,  brisiling  in  defence  of  the  patriot- 
ism she  fancied  had  been  impugned.  '•  I  am  sure  I 
never  worked  so  hard  in  my  life  as  I  have  done  lately, 
crocheting  caps,  slippers,  and  mittens  for  the  young 
officers  at  Camp  Bolivar.  It  is  sad,  I  know,  to  see  the 
best  men  in  the  city  going  oil'  to  the  battle-field  ;  but 
one   can't  be  always   sighing ;  though  it  is  enough  to 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  199 

break  one's  lieart  to  tliink  how  many  of  the  poor  fellows 
will  come  back  maimed  and  disfigured  for  life.  Dear 
me,  I  couldn't  many  a  man  who  returned  with  a  friglit- 
fully  scarred  face,  like  young  Selmore's,  or  one  who 
was  doomed  to  stump  about  for  the  rest  of  his  days  on 
a  wooden  leg.     Could  you,  Miss  Burr  ?" 

Minnie's  face  paled  perceptibly,  and  her  eyes  invo- 
luntarily filled. 

.  "  It  is  painful  to  think  of  such  casualties  for  those 
dear  to  us  ;  but  if  I  loved  another  as  my  own  life,  he 
would  only  be  the  dearer  to  me,  the  more  he  needed 
my  care ;  so  long  as  his  mortal  garb  was  sufficient  to 
clothe  his  spirit,  so  long  should  he  be  my  very  own,  aye, 
longer  yet — mine  still  in  Heaven,  if  haply  it  should'^be 
mine." 

''  I  do  think,  Miss  Burr,  that  over  confinement  has 
somewhat  unhinged  your  faculties,  you  talk  in  such  a 
sti-ained,  impassioned  way,  for  a  person  of  your  years. 
Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  would  walk  down  one  of 
our  fashionable  thoroughfares  with  a  man  whose  face 
was  black  as  a  moor's  from  accidental  gunpowder  dis- 
charge; or  who  was  such  a  wreck  of  humanity  as  to 
excite  the  pitying  gaze  of  every  passer  by  ?" 

"  In  such  case,  I  would  care  to  frequent  no  fashionable 
thoroughfare.  Ko  eyes,  save  those  of  tenderest  com- 
passion should  rest  on  disfigurement  earned  in  cause  so 
glorious.  ]^ot  in  crowded  streets,  but  rather  on  grassy 
prairie  slopes,  would  I  strive  to  be  unto  him  help  meet 
in  his  endurance  of  stripes  gained  in  support  of  justice 
and  right." 

"One  would  think  she  was  in  love,  she  makes  the 
case  so  personal  in  application,"  smilingly  remarked 
Miss  Sears. 

'*  Why  not  ?"  queried  Mons.  Meurice,  with  a  look 
that  brought  the  crimson  to  her  cheek. 

"  We  are  wasting  time,  and  forgetting  our  errand," 


200  THE   RIVAL   TOLUNTEEES;    OE, 

suggested  Miss  Barton.  ""Will  the  liospital  regulations 
permit  our  seeing  one  of  tlie  patients,  if  we  sLould  ask 
it  ?" 

''  Put  yonr  application  in  the  singular,  if  yon  please," 
Iiastilj  interposod  Miss  Sears,  "rifrnn  no  risk  of  con- 
tagion by  needlessly  thrusting  myself  into  unwholesome 
wards  wlierc  there  is  no  knowing  liow  many  infectious 
disorders  are  to  be  had  without  the  asking.  You  have 
robbed  my  flower-stand  of  its  very  choicest  treasures — 
exotics  from  Mr.  Caruthers'  conseryatory — pray,  let 
that  content  you  as  my  share  of  the  contribution ;  and 
not  give  me  a  fit  of  low  spirits,  and  expose  me  to  the 
chance  of  catchinsr  a  fever,  bv  drasrs^in!?  me  where  I 
have  no  wish  to  go. 

"  She  has  reason,"  averred  Monsieur,  with  a  shrug. 
"  "Why  lacerate  her  nerves  without  force,  and  of  chord 
exquisite  rare,  by  the  sights  most  miserable  excruciate  ? 
Go  you  both  who  have  of  adamant  the  brace,  and  con- 
template, without  one  fracture  of  the  sensibility  acute, 
sncli  scenes  as  tiirill  with  pangs  the  sjnrituelle  superla- 
tive, the  incarnadine  most  rhapsodous  of  j)oet-tire  and 
music-tone." 

Miss  Barton  gave  the  speaker  a  look  of  surprise,  not 
unmingled  with  annoyance. 

"If  you  will  have  the  goodness,  sir,  to  come  out  of 
your  fine  frenzy  and  condescend  to  ordinary  modes  of 
speech,  such  as  every-day  mortals,  not  grossly  ignorant 
of  the  plainest  rules  of  syntax  and  all  that,  generally 
use,  I  will  strive  to  make  myself  intelligible  to  your 
transcendental  perceptions." 

Monsieur  bowed  with  a  slight  air  of  pique.  He  had 
a  thorough  detestation  of  a  sharp  woman  ur  a  sarcastic 
woman,  and,  although  finding  amusement  in  laughing 
at,  and  mystifying  others,  was  by  no  means  pleased  at 
having  the  tables  turned  and  being  laughed  at  himself, 
especially  by  one  of  the  sex  ^vllich  he  had  all  his  life 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  RIFLES.  201 

looked  upon  as  composed  of  cliarming  trillers,  fit  sub- 
jects  for  flattery  and  j^er^z/^/^/^,  when  creation's  impe- 
rious lords  saw  fit  to  unbend  from  serious  employ  and 
stoop  to  mirth  and  relaxation. 

An  awkward  pause  ensued,  which  Minnie  broke  by 
assuring  the  visitors  that  none  but  the  nearest  relatives 
of  tlieir  occupants  were  allowed  to  visit  the  sick-wards. 

''  We  niay  at  least  inquire  after,  and  leave  a  bunch 
of  fl(»wers  for,  a  friend,  may  we  not?"   asked  Miss  Lily. 

''  Certainly,"  replied  Minnie ;  "  I  will  see  that  any 
message  or  gift  that  you  may  intrust  to  my  care  is  faith- 
fully transmitted  to  whomsoever  you  may  direct." 

"  Hear  her  talk  of  friends,  when  she  never  so  much 
as  chauged  words  with  Lieutenant  Lonsdale,"  airily 
interpolated  Miss  Sears. 

''  1  am  better  acquainted  with  him,  for  all  that,  than 
with  many  who  pass  as  my  intimates,"  stoutly  insisted 
Miss  Barton.  "  He  lived  next  door  to  some  Kew  Eng- 
land friends  of  mine  with  whom  I  spent  a  week  last  fall. 
He  enlisted  then,  but  his  widowed  mother  (he  was  the 
only  son  left  at  home  with  her)  repented  at  the  last  mo- 
ment, and  procured  a  substitute  to  go  in  his  stead,  he 
obtaining  a  situation  as  clerk  in  one  of  our  mercantile 
houses.  An  urgent  requisition  for  troops  induced  him 
to  join  a  battalion  recruiting  at  Camp  Bolivar.  Lie  was 
severely  wounded,  i  hear  ;  and  being  an  almost  entire 
stranger  in  the  city,  I  have  m^ide  bold  to  bring  him  this 
little  floral  ofl'ering,  not  daring  to  intrude  on  him  any 
more  serviceable  p'ift." 

"  i  am  happy  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  good  account 
of  Mr.  Lonsdale  ;  he  is  out  of  danger,  and  is  rapidly 
improving.  I  acted,  yesterday,  as  Lis  amanuensis ; 
writing,  at  his  dictation,  a  long 'letter  to  his  mother." 

"  A  very  nice  person  ;  she  will  be  overjoyed  to  hear 
that  he  is  in  a  tair  way  of  recovery.  I  will  leave  my 
bouquet  in  your  charge ;  and  please  be  careful  not  to 


^02  THE    TvIVAL   VOLU:^TEEES;    OR, 

drop  this  carte  de  visite  held  bj  the  ribbon,  as  I  think 
he  knows  me  by  sight  if  not  by  name." 

While  handing  tlie  nosegay  to  Minnie,  a  spray  of 
delicately-scented  llorets  fell  to  the  floor. 

"  Ah  !  Heavens  !  what  covert  treason,"  cried  Mon- 
sieur, with  affected  dismay.  stoo})ing  to  raise  the  fallen 
spray.  "  Do  you  know,  Mademoiselle,  wliat  fatal  gift 
you  were  about  sending  to  this  unfortunate  young 
man  ?" 

"  What  gift  do  you  maan,  Monsieur  Meurice  V 

*'  Nothing  less  than  love-in-disgnise,  an  exotic  of  most 
rare  charm  and  subtlety,  fair  demoiselle." 

Miss  Lily  reddened  with  resentment. 

*-If  you  read  me  riddles,  yourself  must  furnish  solu- 
tion ;  1  am  not  apt  that  way." 

"  Spare  me  the  infliction  unbearable  of  your  dis- 
pleasure. Is  it  possible  that  you  did  not  know  the 
name  of  this  harmless-looking  blossom,  which  has, 
nevertheless,  its  own  appointed  means  of  striking  shai-p 
and  under  disguise.  Examine,  while  to  you  I  recount 
its  qualities  recondite.  Behold  its  petals  of  Tyrian  pur- 
ple, its  scarlet  filaments,  its  heart  of  gold.  Then  comes 
the  flower-cup  which  of  it  has  for  the  description  nothing 
worthy  of  to  note.  But  now  of  it  note  well  all  the  niys- 
tery.  In  these  bracts,  as  in  a  nutshell,  it  does  lie  in  a 
manner  most  admirable  of  nature  for  the  purpose  to 
secern.  That  tiny  row  of  leaflets  at  base  of  calyx,  dost 
observe  ?" 

'•  Those  are  what  you  refer  to,  of  course,"  said  Miss 
Sears,  cai'elessly  toucliing  the  calycle  to  which  he  pointed 
and  instantly  drawing  back  her  hand  with  a  slight  cry 
of  pain. 

'•  What  do  you  mean,  Monsieur,  by  serving  me  such 
a  shabby  trick  I  I  could  not  have  thought  it  of  you  ; 
I  do  nut  like  practical  jokes  -when  they  bring  one  to 
harm.     I  am  excessively  angry  with  you." 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    ELFLES.  203 

"  I  am  exalted  into  rapture  and  depressed  into  the 
misery  the  most  poignant.  I  welcome  the  anger  as  bet- 
ter than  the  inditference ;  but  how  can  I  endure  sight 
of  the  suffering  that  hand  so  sweet  and  espiegle  unto 
itself  hath  drawn  ?  Ah  del !  rash  descendant  of  an 
over-curious  ancestress,  had  you  but  been  content  to 
await  due  course  of  explanation  botanique,  you  of  it 
should  not  have  been  brought  to  sudden  grief.  We 
here  of  it  have  not — how  of  him  call  you  the  name  ? 
one  guej^e^  thanks — yes,  one  v^asp.  These  bracts  have 
hidden  nettle-stings  ;  comprehend  you  the  disguise  ?" 

"  As  well  as  I  care  to  comprehend  anything  to  be 
learned  at  such  cost.  Pah,  how  my  finger  tingles. 
Throw  the  vile  prickly  weed  out  at  the  window,  Mon- 
sieur, as  I  will  throw  the  whole  plant  when  1  reach 
home — a  much-to-be-dreaded  and  most  villainously  vile 
plant,  with  its  false  pretences  and  treacherous  lures. 
I'll  none  of  it ;  its  very  name  brands  it  infamous.  Love- 
in-disguise — why  should  love,  if  true,  seek  any  disguise  ? 
why  fear  to  express  itself  openly  like  any  other  honest 
emotion  ?" 

"  Ah  me  !  Mademoiselle,  why  ?" 

She  darted  at  the  speaker  a  quick  glance  of  startled 
surprise,  toying  uneasily  with  her  fan. 

"  The  question  is  of  your  own  asking,  Monsieur ; 
answer  it,  if  you  think  it  worth  your  while." 

"  Then  I  have  your  sanction  for  speaking  freely." 

She  changed  color  beneath  his  searching  look,  but 
replied  with  air  of  assumed  indifference, 

"  Speak  on,  if  you  like  ;  I  place  no  hindrance  in  your 
way." 

*'  Thank  you  from  my  heart,"  he  said,  bending  low  to 
her ;  "  I  am  not  prepared  to  take  advantage,  on  the 
instant,  of  Mademoiselle's  graciously  accorded  permis- 
sion, which  shall  be  remembered  at  season  more  propi- 
tious—do not  fear  but  it  shall  be  remembered  and  acted 


204  THE  EiYAL  TOLr>'TEr.ns ;  or, 

on.  Behold  licrc  of  you  the  fan.  The  clasp  of  its  san- 
dal-wood supports,  in  your  grasp  agitated  and  uncon- 
scious, has  snapped  asunder.  Sutter  that  I  to  smith  of 
silver  do  carry  it  for  repair.'' 

With  graceful  assurance,  lie  took  it  from  her  unresist- 
ing hand. 

"  I  will  return  it  to-morrow.  "Will  that  be  soon 
enough  ?"' 

''  I  am  in  no  hurry  ;  I  have  another,  and  have  no 
immediate  use  for  this." 

She  spoke  in  an  oddly  fluttered  way,  which  seemed 
rather  to  augment  than  detract  from  Monsieur's  equa- 
nimity. His  superior  coolness  and  self-possession  gave 
liim  incalculable  advantage  in  every  wary  move. 

"  Delays  are  fatal,"  he'dcclared,  with  a  Arm  compres- 
sion of  his  moustached  lip.  "  I  will  to  myself  do  the 
honor  to  call  when  it  has  the  hour  of  eight  at  the  even- 
ing to-morrow." 

"'  Tiiat  will  answer  to  a  marvel,  as  I  shall  be  away  at 
the  naval  exhibition  with  Mr.  Caruthers  at  that  time  ; 
but  you  can  leave  the  fan  with  my  landlady,  whose 
memory  may  be  trusted." 

"  Pardon  ;  but  I  have  not  the  honor  of  Madame's 
acquaintance  ;  besides,  you  forget  tlie  lecture  botanique 
I  am  to  deliver  by  permission  explicit  and  of  conde- 
scension the  most  sweet  and  captivating.  I  will  have 
of  the  pleasure  to  pay  of  my  respects  when  it  has  eleven 
of  the  morning  after  the  exhibition." 

"  Yery  Avell ;  I  shall  most  likely  be  out  for  a  prome- 
nade, as*^!  generally  am  at  that  part  of  the  forenoon." 

''  What  sort  of  cress-purposes  are  you  two  sparring 
with  T'  curiously  quei'ed  Miss  Barton. 

'•Too  subtle  ones  to  be  trapped  in  words  like  silly 
flies  in  amber,"  he  returned  with  a  shrug;  "but — who 
lives  shall  see." 

"Well,  you  have  contrived  between  you  to  hang 


THE  BLACK   PLUME  EIFLES.  205 

a  tolerably  weighty  burden  of  discourse  on  a  peg  so 
ligiit  as  a  French  nettle  in  bloom.  Throw  it  aside.  Mon- 
sieur, and  take  this  pansy,  which  is  pretty  and  harmless." 

"I  prefer  my  goro^eoiis  floral  queen,  in  its  purple  and 
gold  ;  it  is  a  souvenir." 

"  As  you  please.  Let  us  go,  for  my  poor  nosegay  is 
already  beginning  to  wither  in  this  warm  room." 

The  three  took  their  departure.  Mens.  Meurice  all 
yolubility  and  subseryience ;  Miss  Sears  laboring  under  a 
sense  of  constraint  and  embarrassment  she  strove  vainly 
to  subdue ;  and  Miss  Barton  keenly  observant  of  her 
companions. 

Minnie  carried  the  bunch  of  flowers  to  the  patient  for 
whom  it  had  been  left ;  but  as  his  eyes  were  closed, 
either  in  sleep  or  through  disinclination  for  the  effort  of 
speech,  she  put  the  boucjuet  in  a  glass  of  water,  and 
leaving  it  beside  his  cot,  softly  withdrew. 

Down  to  the  kitchen  she  ran,  where  Mrs.  Stanton  was 
still  employed  in  hurrying  forward  the  preparation  of 
specified  incarnativcs.  Minnie  gave  prompt  and  efficient 
aid,  wliile  her  free  thoughts  roamed  widely  from  the  scene 
of  her  labors. 

"  Miss  Sears  wrote  truly,"  thought  she,  "  when  she 
told  me  that  we  could  never  meet  as  friends.  She  takes 
all  the  earnestness  out  of  my  best  purposes,  with  her 
talk  of  gems,  and  gauds,  and  adornings,  when  heads  tliat 
are  dearer  to  us  than  all  Golconda's  gems  may  be  lying 
low ;  the  hands  we  have  held  lovingly  in  our  own  stiff- 
ening on  the  dank  sod,  and  tlie  heart  we  would  gladly 
shield  with  our  own  sending  forth  its  last  tlirob,  far 
away  from  kindred  Lud  home.  Oh  me!  who  am  I,  that 
I  should  thus  unchantably  judge  another?  It  is  not 
long,  long  as  it  seems,  since  I  too  v/ore  costly  brilliants 
— wore  them  not  meekly  either — gloating  at  thought  of 
the  envy  I  thereby  inspired.  Eemeinbering  my  own 
follies,  let  me  be  lenient  to  those  of  others. 


208  THE    RIVAL   VOLITXTEEES  ;    OR, 

How  foolisli  of  me,  when  thrown  off  my  guard  by  her 
suggestions  of  shattered  limbs  and  maimed  forms,  to  pour 
fortTi,  as  I  did,  the  deepest  feelings  of  my  inner  life — 
feelings  I  should  have  sacredly  held  in  my  most  guarded 
consciousness,  instead  of  exposing  them  to  tlie  derisive 
scorn  of  one  who  could  never  comprehend  their  fervor. 
Idiot!  shall  I  ever  learn  better  than  to  wear  my  heart 
on  my  sleeve  when  daws  are  by  ?  At  all  events  I  stand 
a  chance  of  rapidly  attaining  unto  the  Christian  grace 
of  humility,  unless  I  reach  a  higher  place  in  my  own 
good  opinion  than  any  to  which  I  am  at  present  disposed 
to  aspire. 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

WAKD   FOE    IXCUEABLES. 

Mixnie's  busy  hands  and  busier  thoughts  were  sud- 
denly suspended  in  action  by  a  message  from  Dr.  TTaldo, 
requesting  her  to  join  him  in  the  laboratory.  Supposing 
that  he  wished  to  send  his  sister  some  directions  requir- 
ing special  accuracy  of  verbal  transmission,  Minnie 
hastened  to  obey  the  summons.  The  doctor,  busy  as 
he  was  with  percolators,  h Iters,  crucibles  and  retorts, 
paused  at  once  to  hand  her  a  scrap  of  soiled  paper  on 
which  her  own  name  had  been  scrawled  with  a  pencil. 
Her  eyes  dilated  over  the  paper,  and  her  cheek  blanched 
to  a  livid  pallor. 

For  an  instant  she  found  speech  impossible,  and  then 
with  difiicultv  articulated : 

"  Where  did  you  get  this  V 

"I  took  it  from  the  hand  of  a  poor  soldier  but  re- 


THE  BLA.CK  PLUME  EIFLES.  20? 

centlv  brought  here,  who  has  evidently  but  a  few  hours 
to  live." 

'*  His  name — did  you  learn  that  V^ 

"  Ellsmead,  so  the  man  said  wlio  left  him  here.  Poor 
fellosv,  he  lins  thrown  away  his  last  chance  of  life,  it 
seems,  by  insisting,  with  a  persistence  that  would 
brook  no  denial,  on  being  conveyed  to  St.  Marc's,  when 
his  recovery  depended  solely  on  his  being  kept  perfectly 
quiet." 

"  Where  is  he  now  ?" 

"  In  the  ward  for  incurables,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

In  her  own  mind  she  accused  the  speaker  of  stony- 
hearted indifference  in  pronouncing  words  unmoved 
that  wruns:  her  verv  soul  with  anofuish. 

"  I  am  bound  to  Morland  Ellsmead  by  marriage  en- 
gagement," she  piteously  acknowledged,  "  and  entreat 
you  to  tell  me  his  exact  condition." 

The  doctor  carefully  adjusted  the  neck  of  a  retort  be- 
fore replying. 

"  You  must  give  me  a  minute's  time ;  for  I  have 
listened,  of  late,  to  so  many  similar  recountals,  that  I 
cannot,  without  some  little  consideration,  recall  the  pre- 
cise case  to  which  you  adverr." 

He  Immmed  a  tune  abstractedly  while  watching  an 
infnsi(jn  of  ptelia  trifoliata,  Avhich  he  slowly  stirred 
with  a  porcelain  spoon. 

"  Please  tell  me,  as  soon  as  you  can  call  to  mind,  what 
I  am  deeply  anxious  to  hear,"  implored  Minnie,  in  tone 
of  urgent  appeal. 

The  doctor  hummed  on,  without  raising  liis  eyes  from 
his  employment.  He  was  not  the  man  to  be  hurried  at 
another's  beck.  When  he  had  taken  due  time  for  reflec- 
tion, he,  as  if  prompted  by  the  occurrence  of  a  sudden 
thought,  drew  a  small  memorandum-book  from  a  side 
pocket  and  ran  ins  eye  down  the  pages  as  he  tuj-ned  the 
leaves. 


20S  THE  RITAL  VOLTT^TTEERS  ;   OE, 

*'  Yon  see,  Miss  Brandon,  that  mv  momory  is  so  over- 
burdened that  I  have  to  ado]~>t  all  practicable  modes  of 
aid  and  relief;  and  I  find  one  in  jottini:^  down  some  faint 
indications  of  the  treatment  best  adapted  to  each  indi- 
vidual case.  Here  is  what  will  help  me  to  the  diagnosis 
in  which  vou  are  particularly  interested."  He  read 
aloud : 

'•EUsmead — imminently  critical.  Food,  if  any  be 
desired,  simple,  niucila2:inou5  drinks.  Medicine:  altera- 
tive, nervine,  mildly  sedative.  Outward  application  : 
lobelia  inflata,  antispasmodic ;  viburnumoxy coccus^  same ; 
camicum  haccatum^  rubefacient." 

^'I  have  it  now;  it  is  tetanus  of  whose  effects  we 
are  more  immediately  aj^prehensive.  Do  you  com- 
prehend ?" 

"  Lock-jaw,"  she  returned,  with  quickened  breath  and 
quivering:  lip. 

"  That  is  it ;  one  of  the  most  malignant  forms  a  disease 
can  assume." 

"You  speak  of  it  as  a  form  assumed  by  disease — 
what  is  the  disease  itself?" 

'^  It  springs  from  a  complicated  laceration  of  the  ten- 
dons of  the  foot,  which  might  have  united,  healed,  and 
left  the  epidermis  to  cicatrize,  if  he  would  but  have 
remained  content  wdiere  he  was,  instead  of  dragging 
hhnsolf  back  here  to  die." 

"  Then  it  is  only  his  foot  that  is  injured  ?" 

"  Bless  you,  that  would  have  been  a  trifle  but  for  su- 
pervening e"^ects,  resulting  from  causes  draining  the 
system  of  irs  vitality,  and  almost  exhausting  his  recupe- 
rative energy.  He  lay  for  two  days  on  the  battio-tiell, 
faint  and  nearly  unconscious,  through  loss  of  blood  from 
a  vround  inliicted  by  a  sabre  stroke,  doubtless  intendel 
for  the  neck,  but  luckily  falling  on  the  upper  part  of  tha 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  209 

ami.  Then  a  coward,  who  ought  to  be  gibbeted  for 
striking  one  too  weak  to  return  tlie  blow,  gave  liim  a 
bayonetdonnge,  probably  meant  for  the  heart,  bat  for- 
tunately failing  of  its  mark,  though  completely  per- 
forating the  left  lung  and  breaking  one  of  the  ribs." 

"  That  was  the  fatal  wound,  then,  doctor  ?'' 

"Xo  ;  a  man  may  breathe  as  easily  through  one  lung 
and  a  moiety  of  a  second,  as  go  through  life  on  one  leg. 
We  might  call  him  w^ell,  that  is,  pathologically  speak- 
ing, free  from  disease,  although,  of  course,  not  sonnd  of 
life  and.  limb,  like  one  in  full  possession  of  every  organ 
and  function  whose  normal  activity  constitutes  health 
in  the  highest  sense  of  the  term.  The  trouble  with  our 
patient  was,  that  when  he  was  at  last  borne  from  the 
Held  and  placed  in  comparatively  comfortable  quarters, 
he  wouldn't  keep  his  mind  at  rest  long  enough  to  give 
nature,  aided  by  art,  time  to  effect  needed  renovations ; 
nothing  would  do  short  of  St.  Marc's.  It  is  a  hard  case, 
I  admit ;  but  we  meet  so  many  hard  cases  now,  that  one 
more  or  less  can  hardly  be  expected  to  call  forth  any 
special  interest." 

"But  this  case  calls  forth  ray  most  especinl  and  ab- 
sorbing interest.  You  will  surely  let  me  see  Mr.  Ells- 
mead.     I  may  go  with  you  to  the  ward  for  incurables?" 

"]l^o  woman  ever  does  go  there  ;  you  will  be  content 
to  return,  afier  a  brief  look  at  the  w^ounded  soldier,  if  I 
will  let  you  go  ?" 

"  Why  may  I  not  stay  and  smooth  his  way  for  him 
down  to  the  very  last  ?" 

''  Child,  you  do  not  know  what  you  ask.  You  have 
not  the  nerve,  no  woman  has,  to  endure  the  sights  and 
sounds  you  would  have  to  see  there.  Why,  the  cries 
and  groans  of  the  poor  fellows  when  their  wounds  are 
being  probed  and  dressed,  accustomed  as  I  am  to  such 
scenes,  sometimes  move  me  so  deeply  that  I  am  long  ia 
shaking  off  their  depressing  effect." 


210  THE    RIVAL   TOLUXTEERS;    OR, 

*'  It  -would  be  strange  if  I  could  not  bear  expressions 
of  pain  wliicli  they  must  endure." 

"  Come  v.'ith  me;  and  wlien  3-011  have  seen  the  reality, 
and  calculated  the  cost  of  your  undertaking,  you  will 
probably  think  better  of  it ;  but  if  you  decide  that  you 
can  bear  it,  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  facilitate  "the  per- 
formance of  the  arduous  duties  vou  take  upon  vour- 
self." 

"  I  am  deeply  grateful  for  this  kindness ;  one  must 
learn  to  bear  what  is  of  necessity  to  be  borne." 

Together  they  ascended  the  broad  staircase. 

"  ^vlly  do  you  put  those  whose  condition  you  regard 
as  most  hopeless  in  the  top  story  of  the  building  ?"  she 
asked  as  they  reached  an  upper  flight  of  stairs. 

"  Because  their  nervous  systems  are  so  overstrung, 
that  their  senses  are  sharpened  to  an  almost  preternatu- 
ral acutencss,  until  we  have  amongst  them  those  to 
whom  a  sight  of  the  sun  would  be  positive  torture,  and 
the  sound  of  a  footfall,  overhead,  actual  misery.  This 
highest  ward  is  more  readily  darkened,  more  easily 
kept  quiet  than  those  below." 

--"He  opened  the  door  as  he  spoke,  motioning  her  to ' 
enter. 

''Tread  lightly;  some  of  them  may  be  sleeping.  I 
am  glad  you  wear  felt  slippers  and  skirts  that  do  not 
rustle." 

He  closed  the  door  softly  behind  him.  Coming  di- 
rectly from  a  landing,  bright  from  the  sun's  glare 
through  a  large  skylight  in  the  roof,  to  an  apartment 
with  closed  shutters  and  drawn  blinds,  Minnie  could  at 
iirst  but  dimly  discern  the  outlines  of  surrounding  ob- 
jects. Her  heart  fairly  sank  within  her  as  she  did  trace 
the  ghastly  lineaments  of  more  than  one  doomed  occu- 
pant of  the  narrovv-  pallets  ranged  in  rows  down  the 
ward.  Here  was  an  emaciated  unfortunate,  Laving  had 
his  jaw  shot  away,  who  waB  taking,  through  a  glass  tube 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  211 

he  had  not  sufficient  strength  to  raise  in  liis  own  behalf, 
the  slight  qnaiititj  of  liquid  nutriment  wlicrewlth  was 
eked  out  the  small  remnant  of  his  daj'S ;  there  another, 
with  glazing  eye  and  clammy  brow,  who  grasped  his 
attendant's  hand,  murmuring  feebly  : 

"  I  can't  see  you  ;  but  don't  go,  it  will  soon  be  over." 

Her  face  blanched,  and  a  strong  shudder  shook  her 
frame. 

"Is  it  too  much  for  you?"  asked  the  surgeon. 

"Xo;"  she  resolutely  replied ;  "it  is  too  much  for 
them." 

"  It  seems  cruel  to  leave  you  here,"  he  said,  feelingly; 
"but  perhaps  it  would  be  a  greater  cruelly  to  take  you 
away." 

At  gesture  from  the  speaker,  she  paused  beside  a  cot 
whereon  lay  the  worn,  emaciate  frame  of  a  seeming 
stranger,  whose  very  posture,  one  arm  thrown  over  the 
head  which  was  drawn  painfully  to  one  side,  was  indi- 
cative of  exhaustion  and  unrest.  Those  lustreless,  half- 
closed  eyes,  that  forehead  corrugated  by  premature 
wrinkles,  the  face  pinched  and  vv^orn,  the  lips  pale, 
tight-drawn,  the  beard  matted,  the  hair  unshorn — what 
was  there  here  to  remind  her  of  one  upon  whom  she 
had  last  looked  in  the  full  strength  and  prime  of  early- 
manhood — of  the  voice  which  had  besought  her  love- 
troth — of  the  glance  that  had  read  and  responded  to  her 
own — of  the  parting  kiss  that  still  in  memory  thrilled 
on  her  lips? 

"That  wreck  jMorland  Ellsmead!"  she  ejaculated, 
doubtingly,  and  with  an  appealing  look  at  her  conduc- 
tor, as  if  half  desirous  that  he  might  be  able  to  contra- 
dict her  words. 

"  It  is  but  rarely  that  a  visitor  to  this  ward  is  able  to 
recognize  a  friend,"  the  surgeon  assured  her.  "  Since 
you  are  bent  upon  it — I  don't  pretend  to  deny  that  it 
may  soften  your  regrets  in  after  years  ;  I  never  pretend 


212  THE    r.ITAL   TOLUNTEEES;    OE, 

to  dictate  in  such  affairs — wLy,  oven  stay  and  smooth 
his  Avay,  if  you  liave  the  heart  f')r  it,  through  the  few 
hours,  or  dr.ys  at  farthest,  that  will  put  him  beyond 
reach  of  our  soothing^  if  he  be  not  ah'oady  beyond  such 
reach." 

*•  I  cannot  do  my  best  for  him  if  you  bid  u:ie  despair,'' 
she  plaintively  remonstrated. 

"  Do  your  best  and  I  will  do  mine,  prescribing  as 
faithfully  as  tliough  I  were  more  sanguine  of  the  result. 
Woman's  tender  and  vigilant  care,  the  tliousand  trilling 
needs  of  the  sick  to  whicli  her  line  intuitive  sympathies 
naturally  fit  her  to  minister,  are  sometimes  of  marvel- 
lous efticacy,  as  I  have  frequently,  in  the  course  of  a 
long  and  extensive  practice,  had  occasion  to  observe. 
I  have  but  brief  time  to  spare,  as  we  are  constantly  in 
receipt  of  fresh  arrivals  to-day,  so  I  will  explain  to  you, 
as  clearly' as  I  can,  the  mode  of  treatment  I  propose 
adopting  in  the  present  case,  knowing  that,  with  your 
natural  aptitude  and  the  experience  acquired  below 
stairs,  you  are  capable  of  intelligently  cari-ying  out  my 
directions.  First,  I  will  endeavor  to  make  your  posi- 
tion as  tenable  as  circumstances  will  allow. 

"  Here,  Franz,  catch  hold  of  that  foot-board  and  help 
me  lift  this  bedstead  into  this  recess.  'J hat  will  do; 
you  are  very  hand  v.  Xow  run  into  the  splint-room  and 
bring  me  one  of  the  largest  screens  you  can  find — you 
understand,  green  glazed  paper  tacked  to  frames." 

The  messenger  quickly  returned  with  the  portable 
screen,  which  was  placed  before  the  recessed  roo^n. 

"  Now  that  I  have  done  what  I  could  in  the  way  of 
providing  for  your  seclusion,  Miss  Braiidon,  give  me 
your  closest  atteniion  while  1  explain  the  professional 
dicta  you  are  to  vary  as  varying  phases  of  the  disease 
require.  Tlie  side  and  foot  have  been  dressed  for  the 
day — pass  them  by.  This  mixture,  to  be  outwardly 
applied  to  the  lower  part  of  the  face  and  to  the  throat, 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  213 

cannot  be  too  frenuentlj  nscd.  Here  is  a  soft  brasli  to 
facilitate  its  application.  If  the  spasmodic  muscular 
contraction  should  abate  in  severity,  so  that  you  could 
introduce  hetvreen  the  patient's  -teeth  this  small,  flat- 
tened cylinder,  hll  it  with  this  gclsernhmin — ah,  it's 
the  powder  I  have;  111  leave  it  in  liquid  form — and  ad- 
minister it  without  delay.  If  he  should  still  be  restless, 
tossing  about  and  moaning,  don't  let  him  waste  his 
strength  in  that  sort  of  useless  effort.  Opium  is  so  ob- 
viously depressing  to  vitality,  that  I  dare  not  prescribe 
it  in  cases  of  extreme  prostration ;  but  here  are  valerian, 
hyoscyamus,  lupuline,  Scutellaria — directions  for  use  ac- 
companying each — with  which  I  may  safely  trust  you. 
In  case  of  severe  pain,  moisten  your  handkerchief  with 
ether,  allowing  him  to  inhale  it  at  intervals,  and  spar- 
ingly. If,  which  I  have  not  the  remotest  anticipation 
will  occur,  he  should  manifest  the  slightest  desire  for 
food,  give  a  teaspoonful  of  this  restorative  cordial, 
followed  by  one,  or  more  if  he  can  take  it,  of  elm-bark 
tea,  which  is  both  demulcent  and  nutritive." 

The  speaker  lefc,  at  call  of  pressing  duties  demand- 
ing immediate  attention,  and  she  was  in  sole  tendance 
of  her  all-engrossing  charge.  She  laid  her  hand  on 
the  shrunken  wrist  whose  feeble  intermittent  flutter 
but  faintly  betokened  life.  A  sense  of  awe  and  isola- 
tion such  as  she  could  nowhere  else  have  experienced, 
made  her  spirit  quail  within  her.  She  had  with  her 
the  one  dearest  object  in  earth's  gift,  and  yet  she  "had 
him  not;  for  a  dead  blank  wall  of  unconsciousness  as 
effectually  barred  her  from  his  presence  as  though  floods 
of  sea  and  mountains  of  space  had  intervened.  Per- 
haps in  the  whole  dull  round  of  human  sorrow  none 
casts  on  the  heart  a  more  withering  shadow  of  forlorn 
desolation  than  this  of  sitting  beside  the  form  of  one  be- 
loved while  the  spirit  it  enshrines  is  withheld  from  our 
converse  by  the  inexorable  bonds  of  insensibility.     She 


214  THE    RIVAL    VOLUZCTEEES  ;    OR, 

busied  herself  constantly  about  the  suflerer,  never  per- 
mitting the  liniment  to  dry  on  face  or  throat,  while  ho 
knew  notliing  of  tlie  loving  watchcare  by  whicli  she  un- 
weaiiedly  strove  to  win  him  back  to  life.  Hour  after 
hour  went  by,  and  still  the  faint  flutter  at  his  heart,  the 
scarce  perceptible  pulse  at  his  wrist,  were  the  only 
assurances  that  he  might  still  be  classed  amongst  the 
livipLg. 

At  last  there  came  a  change,  a  reddening  of  the  skin 
beneath  the  liniment,  a  slight  moisture  on  the  heated 
brow,  a  stifled  moan,  and  the  hand  that  had  lain  mo- 
tionless on  the  spread  was  slowly  raised.  The  wan  lips 
moved,  pronouncing  but  a  single  word. 

"Ilarkf' 

She  bent  over  him  in  an  agony  of  sob'citude 

"  What  is  it  you  hear,  Morland  ?  Speak  to  me,  if  it 
be  but  a  word." 

With  a  shudder  he  murmured  :  "The  solemn  tolling 
of  a  far-off  bell." 

Scalding  tears  gushed  to  her  eyes  ;  it  is  possible  that, 
through  power  of  anticipation,  she  realized,  for  the  mo- 
ment, the  exceeding  bitterness  of  bereavement. 

Dr.  AYaldo  looked  in  upon  her  in  passing. 

"  You  must  not  confine  yourself  too  closely  here, 
Miss  Brandon ;  run  down  stairs,  rinse  out  your  mouth 
wirh  vineo^ar,  and  take  a  turn  in  the  vard  for  a  breath 
ot  air.'' 

"  Xever  mind  me.  Doctor.  What  do  you  think  of 
him  ?" 

^'Have  you  noticed  any  change  in  his  symptoms?'* 

"  He  has  spoken  a  few  words." 

"Intelligibly?  and  did  he  recognize  you?" 

She  shook  her  head  in  sad  denial. 

"It  is  not  of  good  omen,  this  protracted  lethargy.  1 
had  supposed  he  would  rally  a  little  before  the  very 
last ;  but  in  these  cases  of  extreme  exhaustion  we  can 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  21 5 

predicate  nothing  witli  any  approach  to  certainty.  All 
I  ^Yill  venture  to  affirm  is,  that^he  ca,n't  hold  out  in  this 
^vaylong;  and  you  may  look  for  a  change,  either  for 
better  or  worse,  at  any  moment." 

The  speaker  passed  on,  leaving  her  alone  ^itli  the 
grief  which  was  only  less  than  despair.  She  knew  not 
whether  to  wish  the  weary  hours  away,  trusting  that 
their  flight  might  bring  assuaging  balm  to  the  sufferer's 
relief,  or  to  supplicate  that  their  tardy  progress  might  be 
yet  further  stayed ;  because  she  knew  not  whether  the 
waning  hours  were  to  bring  her  consolation,  or  a  cor- 
roboration of  her  worst  fears. 

A  kindly  attendant,  in  ministering  to  the  needs  of  a 
patient  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  screen,  caught  a 
glimpse  of  her  deeply  anxious  face  and  came  at  once  to 
her  side. 

"  Poor  fellow  !  he  is  dying,  isn't  he  ?  How  his  fingei-s 
catch  at  the  bed-clothes  ;  that  is  a  sign  it  is  almost  over." 

"It  is  nervousness  and  exhaustion,"  returned  Minnie, 
gulping  down  a  sob ;  for  she  remembered  well  this  iden- 
tical movement  in  her  dying  sister's  hand.  Grasping 
that  of  her  charge,  she  restrained  its  aimless  wanderings 
in  a  clasp  firm  but  gentle. 

O,  joyous  revulsion  from  the  numbing  misery  of  de- 
spair to  even  the  faintest  glimmer  of  hope !  His  eyes 
opened,  faint  and  bloodshot,  but  meeting  hers  with  a 
glance  of  half-conscious  recognition.  The  rigid  muscu- 
lar contraction  so  far  relaxed  that,  with  little  difficulty, 
she  succeeded  in  administering  the  gelseminmn  accord- 
ing to  direction. 

His  lids  slowly  drooped  over  his  weary  eyes,  and  for 
a  few  minutes  he  remained  perfectly  quiet ;  then  she 
perceived  that  his  lips  were  moving,  and  bent  to  catch 
their  whispered  accents. 

"  I  could  bear  the  pain,  Minnie,  but  my  strength  is 
gone." 


216  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

She  gave  liim  a  teaspoonful  of  restorative  cordial, 
which  Jie  swallowed  v/iih  effort,  and  one  of  the  tea  as 
welL  The  potion  acting  favorably  was,  at  frequent  in- 
tervals, repeated. 

13ut,  as  iiis  strength  faintly  revived,  so  also  cjnichened 
the  pain  in  ratio  so  disproportionate  that  nature  "was 
almost  overpowered  in  its  feeble  attempt  to  rally.  Tiic 
Land  she  held  in  her  own  felt  as  though  it  had  been 
dipped  in  iced  water,  so  moist  was  it  with  a  cold  dew ; 
and  every  breath  he  exhaled  terminated  in  a  scarce 
audible  moan. 

She  bethought  her,  then,  of  that  blessed  anossthetic 
agent  which,  to  suffering  humanity,  has  proved  boon  so 
beneficent.  Pouring  ether  upon  her  handkerchief,  slio 
so  held  it  that  he  could  inhale  its  stupefying  fumes,  and 
soon  had  tlie  satisfaction  of  noting  that  his  breathing 
grew  more  quiet  and  regular,  after  which  he  sank  into 
that  fitful,  uiirefreshing  sleep  which  is  the  best  substi- 
tute for  healthful,  wholesome  slumber  artificial  aids  to 
repose  can  superinduce.  Lrief  the  respite  permitted  by 
even  this  poor  apology  fur  rest. 

A  sensation  of  deadly  faintness  swept  through  his  en- 
tire system.     lie  vainly  clutched  at  her  sleave. 

''  Save  me ;  I  am  sinking,  sinking  quite  away.  I  think 
this  must  be  death,*' 

She  crushed  the  tears  beneath  her  lids ;  it  was  no 
time  to  give  way  to  weakness,  so  long  as  a  forlorn  hope 
of  saving  him  remained. 

'•  Sal-volatile,  quick,"  she  cried  to  the  nurse,  still  busy 
with  Iiis  charge  on  the  other  side  of  the  screen. 

The  stimulant  was  brought,  mixed  with  water.  She 
moistened  the  sick  man's  lips  with  the  same,  as  he  was 
no  longer  able  to  swallow,  bathing  his  forehead  and 
chafing  his  temples.  Slow  and  lingering  his  return  to 
conscious  life,  if  life,  the  mere  tact  of  drawing  his 
breath  in  torture  could  be  called. 


THE  CLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  217 

Throngli  the  long  night-watches  she  hung  over  him 
in  nnrelievecl  suspense,  often  bending  her  ear  to  catch, 
the  "breath  that  assured  her  he  still  lived. 

The  morning  brought  vrith  it  Dr.  Waldo,  his  sister, 
and  an  accompanying  surgeon. 

"  Como  with  me  while  the  patient's  wounds  are 
dressed,"  proposed- Mrs.  Stanton,  leading  away  the  worn- 
out  watcher. 

"  What  sort  of  pencil-case  was  that  the  doctor  held  in 
his  hand?"  asked  Minnie  of  her  conductress,  as  thej 
descended  the  stairs. 

'•The  pencil  is  of  lunar  caustic,  the  case  of  aluminum, 
I  think,  the  only  metal  the  nitrate  will  not  corrode." 

"  Why  did  he  have  it  with  him  ?" 

"  To  try  and  eat  out  the  morbid  growth  in  the  pa- 
tient's foot,  which  would  not  heal  otherwise." 

"  It  must  be  a  painful  process." 

''It-  would  be  if  its  object  were  not  unconscious, 
Tv^hich  is  the  condition  most  favorable  for  its  perform- 
ance." 

Just  one  hour  Minnie  allowed  herself  for  rest  and  re- 
freshment, before  returning  to  her  post.  For  days,  her 
helpless  charge  seemed  hovering  on  the  very  brink  of 
eternity;  deadly  attacks  of  faintness  alternating  with 
those  of  fierce  wringing  pain  that  strung  his  flaccid 
nerves  to  their  highest  point  of  tension.  Through  it  all, 
love  faithful  and  untiring,  fanned  with  gentlest  breath 
the  feeble  spark  of  vitality  that,  but  for  such  unwearied 
tendance,  must,  in  all  human  probability,  have  gone  out 
forever. 

The  wound  in  his  side  forced  him  to  a  single  con- 
strained posture,  whose  continued  observance  became 
an  unspeakable  weariness. 

"If  some  one  would  but  raise  my  shoulders  a  trifle, 
it  would  be  an  indescribable  relief,"  he  imploringly  sug- 
gested. 

10 


218  THE  EivAL  volunteers;  ok, 

"  1  can  do  that  "by  passing  my  arm  beneath  your  pil- 
low, so  as  to  bring  your  head  a  little  higher.  There ; 
are  you  easier  now  ?" 

''Very  much  so  ;  the  change  is  such  a  rest." 

In  the  more  comfortable  position  thus  afforded,  he 
soon  fell  into  a  calm  and  tranquil  sleep.  As  hour  after 
hour  went  by,  her  own  position  became  one  of  painful 
constraint ;  but  this  might  be  his  saving  sleep,  and  she 
was  by  no  means  disposed  to  cavil  at  its  length. 

Mrs.  Stanton  stepped  behind  the  screen. 

"  I  have  come,  at  my  brother's  request,  to  take  your 
place  for  a  half  hour  or  so." 

'-  It  is  very  kind  of  you  both,  busy  as  you  are,  to  think 
of  me ;  but  this  is  the  first  time,  since  he  came  here, 
that  he  has  slept  without  some  sort  of  anodyne,  and  it 
would  be  cruelty  to  disturb  him  now." 

"  It  is  not  to  be  thought  of;  I  will  run  up  again  when 
I  find  time.     Is  there  nothing  I  can  do  for  you  now?" 

"  My  throat  is  so  dry  and  parched  that  1  am  in  con- 
stant dread  of  coughing,  which  would  awaken  him  in 
an  instant ;  a  swallow  of  the  elm- water  in  that  cup 
mio:ht  remedy  this." 

the  cup  was  handed  to  her. 

As  Mrs.  Stanton  pushed  aside  the  screen  in  passing 
out,  Minnie  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  plain  pine  coffin, 
which  two  men  were  passing  through  a  side  entrance 
still  farther  down  the  ward.  She  was  thanklul  that  her 
precious  charge  was  not  awake  to  behold  a  sight  so 
startlingly  suggestive  to  one  in  his  enfeebled  condition — 
more  thankful  still  that  his  ear  was  not  cognizant  to  the 
sound  of  the  hoarse  rattling  breath  of  a  leUoy\'-sufterer 
whose  last  earthly  conflict  was  almost  over.  These  were 
not  sights  and  sounds  calculated  to  promote  the  recovery 
of  one  whose  overstrung  nerves  quivered  and  thrilled  at 
a  tone  or  a  look  as  only  sick  nerves  can  quiver  and 
thrill  at  cause  so  apparently  trivial. 


THE  BLACK   PIOIE  EIPLE! 


219 


m  such  sight,  however,  met  Morland's  gaze  as  his 
6}  es  opened  upon  the  tenderly  watchful  face^e^press  ve 
W  fh^  n^  d""""'  't  ^"  rP'-'^^'^l  pi-ospect  of Tov  r? 

atl;nio>U'ZfCl"°'  '''•''^='"?'  '1^^  ^^™^^  t°  di^^'-t  l^iB 
by  he  efllrte  of  V:^"^g.='^°ft;t^ide  of  action  occasioned 
>>y  ine  enoits  ot  long  inert  digestives  to  resume  tlio 

H~  '  1"  1^'  "'T^'^  P'-«''-^^t^d  disuse,  had  beco  i: 
iiLsome  and  almost  beyond  power  of  attem'pt. 

Ws^  teMioZ.o  'S''^"  '""''  ''  ^''  fi'-^*  -"«  to  distract 

o  r:^'tL^i^i- fc:s3reSt;ttro^= 

tedmm  by  conversing  with  liiSi  •  or,  tl7»  „    \  t 

.^Vained  from  more  Cti  SasioTaltoiToSret 
^;ell  kno^^g  that  the  exertion  of  replying  or  e  en  of 

Tho'tfr"  '''^^ ''°""'  *'"-°^"  «"-°^^  the  fSot  of  he  cot  • 
iho  term  aniusenient  was  not  one  appreciable  bv  a  l?e,■ 
chee;* 'f'  ''"«"'''™f  ?""*««"  ^  ^^'t  the  igof^rhe" 
cheeifu  face  now  and  then  bestowing  on  him  a  gracious 
nod  and  smde ;  of  the  deft  lingers  so'thriftily  bifsy  wl^h 
^je  defaced  garment  he  had  c^Tst  aside  as  worthiest  bore 
wth  It  a  certain  indefinable  charm   which   was  not 

Si'i  .ti:!.r^"^'T-  ^-'t-s^t'-^i^ewa'inirderc- 

laoie  a  tiame  of  mmd  as  a  man  with  lacerated  cellular 

o  at^^ir'nto  "'f  7'  !f"^'°"^  °°"^^'  reasonably'aSSo 

talk  fbr  a    tH.  ^Jf^  ^^J'.  ™ ore,  and  he  was  abli  to 

sSiexiStiS''^  ^'  ^  '"-'  -*''-*  d-g-  of  sub- 

'--That  man's  voice  sounds  familiar  to  me  "  he  mo-e 

than  once  remarked,  as  the  patient  on  the  o^posHe  sii: 


220  THE    RIVAL   VOLUNTEEES;    OR, 

of  tlie  screen  gave  orders  to  a  nurse  in  attendance.  "  I 
have  it,''  lie  said  at  last ;  "  he  is  the  soldier  I  met  in  the 
woods,  near  Laurenstein.  Please,  Minnie,  now  that  he 
is  once  more  left  to  himself,  to  ask  him  if  he  would  like 
to  renew  the  acqnaintiince  of  the  man  he  shot  in  mis- 
take for  a  hound." 

The  reply  that  she  brought  hack  in  answer  to  this 
message  was  an  eager  affirmative. 

Tiie  screen  was  drawn  a  little  aside  that  the  wounded 
patriots  might  obtain  a  sight  of  each  other.  Each  uttered 
an  exclamation  of  surprise  at  the  worn  and  haggard  face 
of  the  other. 

"  I  never  yet  kne^v  the  name  of  the  man  wdiose  death 
I  feared  to  have  caused,"  said  the  stranger ;  "  permit 
me  to  ask  it  now." 

^'  Private  EUsmead,  they  called  me  in  the  ranks." 

*'  And  this  young  lady  T' 

"  Is  Miss  Minnie  Brandon." 

The  querist  started  at  sound  of  her  name. 

"  Pardon  my  seeming  rudeness.     Is  she  a  relative  ?" 

"  She  is  not,"  replied  Morland,  somewhat  stiffly. 

Minnie  reddened,  but  said  with  quiet,  womanly 
dignity : 

"  He  is  more  than  a  friend  ;  I  have  his  pleds^ed  word 
to  that  effect." 

''  Thank  you,  I  understand,"  returned  the  stranger, 
in  courteous  acknowledgment.  "As  I  am  strongly 
desirous  of  improving  the  acquaintance  so  casually  com- 
menced, I  should  give  you  my  name ;  but  I  have  a  whim 
for  passing  myself  off  under  a  false  one ;  so  call  me 
Ash  by ;  I  can  answer  to  that  as  easily  as  to  a  more 
high-sounding  cognomen.  What  did  you  think  of  my 
not  returning  that  day  I  left  vou  half  dead  in  the 
forest  V 

"  I  feared  some  fatal  mischance  had  befallen  you." 

"  And  so  there  had.    I  got  my  death-wound  that  day. 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  RIFLES.  221 

I  had  to  go  near  the  house  joii  will  remember  to  have 
seen,  in  order  to  obtain  the  water  for  which  you  were 
thirsting.  I  had  just  risen  from  filling  the  canteen  at 
the  brook,  when  a  pistol-shot  struck  me  in  the  right 
side  of  the  chest,  passing  through  the  lung  and  frac- 
turing the  shoulder-blade.  As  I  recoiled  a  few  steps 
before  falling,  I  caught  just  a  glimpse  of  a  white  lace 
sleeve,  and  a  woman's  hand,  holding  a  pistol,  drawn 
inside  an  open  window  of  the  house  I  reminded  you  of. 
There  I  lay  bleeding  internally  and  externally,  as 
miserable  a  wretch  as  was  to  be  found  on  the  footstool. 
The  thought  that  another  lay  not  far  away  in  case  quite 
as  deplorable,  and  through  my  means,  was  far  enough 
from  giving  me  consolement.  It  is  the  misery  that  finds 
no  company,  no  safety-valve  in  speech,  that  is  heaviest 
to  bear, 

"  I  was  so  weak  and  faint,  that  I  could  Itardly  raise 
my  heavy  eyelids  ;  but  for  all  that,  I  was  aware  of  the 
light  step  that  stole  to  my  side.  I  heard  the  rustle  of  a 
silken  gown,  and,  without  seeing  her,  knew  that  a 
woman  was  bending  over  me.  I  waited  for  some  word 
of  sympathy,  some  tenderly  pitying  tone  to  assuage  the 
intensity  of  my  anguisli,  for  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  could 
not  endure  more  and  live  ;  and  that  no  human  being 
without  a  heart  harder  than  the  nether  millstone,  could 
look  unmoved  on  jDangs  that  almost  stopped  my  pulse, 
and  took  my  breath  away. 

"'Die,  dastard,'  hissed  the  low  tones  of  malignant 
female  venom  ;  '  now,  Gorham,  have  I  begun  to  execute 
mv  vow  of  vengeance  for  the  foul  murder  that  left  me 
childless.' 

"  I  raised  my  look  to  the  cold,  stern  face  so  vindic- 
tively bent  on  my  own,  and  begged  for  a  drink  of 
water. 

"  She  glared  on  me  in  a  way  that  1  cannot  better 
describe  than  by  saying  that  it  reminded  me  of  a  wild 


222  THE  PviYAL  volunteers;  ok, 

beast  gloating  over  its  prey.  Save  tlirous^li  her  glance, 
she  did  not  speak.  As  she  went  awaj,  "l  noticed  that 
slie  bore  a  respectable  appearance,  clad  in  a  narrow- 
skirted  1)1  ack  silk,  with  a  decent  cap  covering  her  grey 
locks.  She  entered  tlie  house,  but  soon  came  back  with 
a  tin  basin  in  her  hand. 

"• '  Her  words  and  looks  belie  her,'  I  said  to  myself; 
'she  has  some  spark  of  humanity  left  in  her  yet ;  she  is 
bringing  some  freshly-made  tea  to  quench  my  thirst.' 

"  She  raised  the  basin  and  dashed  its  contents  full  in 
my  face — some  sort  of  alkaline  preparation  it  must  have 
held,  judging  from  the  caustic  smart  it  caused  in  my 
eyes  and  nostrils.  Ko  tongue  can  describe  the  unutter- 
able rage  that  boiled  in  my  veins  at  this  unprovoked 
and  barbarous  assault  on  ane  whose  sufferings  were 
already  well  nigh  past  endurance. 

"  I  never  had  a  sister ;  my  mother  died  when  I  was 
so  young,  that  she  has  always  held  a  saint's  place  in  my 
memory ;  and  this  accounts,  in  some  degree,  for  the 
exalted  place  woman  has  always  held  in  my  estimation 
as  the  incarnation  of  all  mild  and  gentle  virtues,  one  to 
shield,  to  toil  for,  to  protect  to  the  very  death  ;  but 
when,  instead  of  the  benign  ministrant  1  had  loved  to 
jDicture  her,  she  stood  forth  a  stealthy  and  treacherous 
assassin,  my  feelings  underwent  a  sudden  and  violent 
revulsion,  the  intensity  of  my  hate  being  proportionate 
to  the  chivalric  regard  it  had  displaced.  Av'hen  she  out- 
raged all  the  diviner  instincts  of  womanhood,  by  for^ng 
herself  into  tlie  arena  of  strife  and  bloodshed,  from 
which  man  and  nature  had  conspired  to  shut  her  out, 
she  Avas  no  longer  a  creature  privileged  with  defence, 
but  an  enemy  to  be  attacked  and  disarmed.  I  swore 
that  no  brother  officer  should  ever  receive  liis  death-blow 
from  the  same  hand  that  had  dealt  mine.  From  the 
necessity  of  the  case,  I  combined  in  my  own  person  the 
triple  function  of  victim,  judge  and  jury.      What  say 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    ELFLES.  223 

yoii,  Ellsmead,  ought  I  to  have  left  this  fiend  in 
female  form  to  go  at  large  and  repeat  the  crime  of 
murder  ?" 

Morland  raised  quicMj  his  glance  to  Minnie's  face, 
as  though  loath  to  pronounce  judgment  against  any 
member  of  the  sex  toward  which  he  was  tolerant  for 
her  sake. 

"  She  was  a  dangerous  and  hardened  criminal,  and 
death  but  her  just  desert,"'  slowly  faltered  Minnie. 

Mr.  Ashby  started. 

'^  You  have  avoided  the  only  difficulty  in  the  case. 
Miss  Brandon  ;  she  undoubtedly  deserved  a  criminal's 
doom  ;  but  was  it  right  to  mete  out  to  her  such  doom 
vrithout  the  benefit  of  law  or  clergy  ?  I  asked  myself 
no  sucli  question  at  the  time.  I  held  it  to  be  a  sacred 
obligation  I  owed  to  the  innocent,  to  punish  one  guilty 
of  so  dark  a  crime,  and  greatly  feared  that  my  last  hour 
might  come,  and  the  earth  not  be  rid  of  her.  Had  my 
strength  been  equal  to  my  will,  brief  the  time  she 
should  have  had  wherein  to  shrive  herself ;  as  it  was,  I 
had  to  wait  and  watch  my  opportunity,  husbanding  well 
my  resources,  not  wasting,  by  so  much  as  a  groan, 
one  single  particle  of  that  waning  strength,  every  iota 
of  which  I  should  need  in  carrying  out  my  purpose. 

'•  As  evening  drew  on,  I  kept  a  close  watch  on  the 
house  that  no  one  might  enter  it  imbeknown  to  me,  as  I 
wished  to  make  sure  that  she  was  quite  by  herself  on 
the  premises.  I  satisfied  myself  that  such  was  the  case. 
I  thought  the  hours  would  never  go  by;  but,  at  last, 
heard  a  clock  striking  ten.  She  came  out  with  alighted 
lantern  in  her  hand,  and  passed  it  slowly,  several  times, 
back  and  forth  across  my  eyes.  I  had[  noticed,  as  she 
approached,  the  glitter  of  a  sharp  blade  ;  and,  not  know- 
ing for  what  purpose  it  might  be  intended,  I  discreetly 
composed  my  features  to  the  most  rigid  immobility  they 
were  capable  of  assuming.     Evidently  convinced  that  1 


224:  THE   RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

was  beyond  the  need  of  any  further  assiduities,  she  left 
me  without  spcakins^. 

"  I  waited  an  hour  after  she  had  fjistened  the  windows 
and  blown  out  her  li^ht,  before  proceeding  to  put  my 
plan  into  execution.  JSTo  one  who  has  not  gone  throngli 
the  same  can  form  any  conception  of  the  torture  I  under- 
went in  wri tiling  myself  over  the  ground  from  the  spot 
where  I  had  been  lying  to  a  window  directly  beneath 
the  stairs  by  which  she  had  gone  up  to  her  bed-room. 
At  every  move  the  blood  gushed  from  my  wound,  and 
the  pain  was  like  that  of  a  shovelful  of  live  coals  heaped 
across  my  chest. 

"  It  was  a  work  of  time  and  patience  to  tear  off  a  por- 
tion of  my  muslin  shirt-sleeve,  which  I  placed  carefully 
beneath  the  wooden  sill,  and,  adding  a  few  dead  twigs 
from  an  ailing  shrub,  lit  the  pile  with  a  match  from  the 
little  metallic  box  I  never  go  without,  and  the  deed  was 
done.  The  house  was  soon  in  flames,  and  I  dragged 
myself  away  from  the  fatal  spot. 

"  The  dry  timbers  roared  and  crackled  with  awful 
distinctness  on  the  still  night  air  ;  but  that  was  not  the 
sound  I  was  listening  for.  The  cry  of  a  frightened  bird 
came  up  from  the  woods  ;  but  not  for  that  was  1  bark- 
ening with  strained  and  eager  expectancy.  The  distant 
baying  of  a  hound  came  from  afar ;  but  that  was  not  the 
one  sound  I  waited  to  hear.  It  came — wild  with  fear, 
shrill  with  terror — a  woman's  shriek,  sharp,  sudden,  as 
suddenly  stifled  by  the  densely  rising  smoke. 

"  The  single  staircase  leading  to  the  upper  story  was 
all  ablaze — no  hope  of  escape  by  that.  A  white  face 
appeared  at  the  window,  weak,  trembling  hands  tried  to 
throw  up  the  sash  which  resisted  their  efforts. 

"  Did  her  eyes  and  nostrils  smart  as,  thanks  to  her 
barbarous  malignity,  my  own  had  done  not  many  hours 
before  ?  A  man  is  half  dehumanized  when  maddened 
by  rage  or  any  other  blind,  ungovernable  passion.     I 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  225 

could  have  looked  with  composure  on  her  last  throes 
even  though  knowing  my  own  were  likelv  soon  to 
follow.  "^ 

^  "  Let  me  not  dwell  on  such  a  theme.  The  roof  fell 
m,  and  all  was  over. 

"I  looked  for  death,  and  even  hoped  for  it,  as  my  onlv 
chance  of  relief.  '  j        j 

"  JN^exc  morning,  a  farmer,  driving  with  a  load  of  corn 
to  the  Laurenstein  grist-mill,  got  off  his  wa^on  and 
came  to  look  at  the  scene  of  the  fire.  He  discovered 
me,  of  course.  I  offered  him  my  w^atch  if  he  would 
place  me  m  charge  of  any  stanch  Union  man  he 
might  happen  to  know.  My  offer  would  probably 
Jiave  been  of  but  little  avail,  as  he  could  easily  hitve 
appropriated  any  valuables  in  my  possession,  had  he 
not  proved  to  be  himself  a  firm  Unionist.  He  took 
me  home  with  him,  and  gave  me  the  kindest  care  until 
i  tound  means  of  travelling  north  to  join  my  friends  ;  I 
migiit  have  spared  myself  the  trouble,  as  the  relatives  I 
sought  had  fallen  victims  to  guerilla  outrage.  I  came 
here  m  preference  to  testing  the  accommodations  of  a 
crowded  hotel.  ]^ow,  Ellsmead,  let  me  hear  how  you 
escaped  from  the  fearful  position  in  which  I  left  you." 

"  I  will  tell  you  all— it  exhausts  him  to  talk  more  than 
a  few  minutes  at  a  time— when  he  is  sufficiently  rested 
to  set  me  right  on  any  points  I  might  accidentally  mis- 
take. You  can  see,  by  this  cold  dew  on  his  forehead 
and  the  tremor  of  his  hands,  that  even  listening  would 
weary  him  just  at  present.  You  shall  hear  all,  but  not 
now." 


10^ 


226  THE   RIVAL   YOLUNTEEKS  ;    OK, 


CHAPTEE    XIY. 

HOME. 

Pleasant  sights,  and  perfumes  no  less  pleasing,  were 
in  the  airy,  cheery  room  where  lay  the  sufferer  but  re- 
cently removed  thither  from  crowded  hospital  wxird. 
Let  me  describe  the  room,  and  you  will  see  that  I  liave 
not  over-estimated  its  attractiveness.  A  cool  straw 
matting  is  on  the  floor  ;  in  the  corners  are  tasteful  tri- 
angular book-shelves,  suspended  by  a  framework  of  var- 
ni'shed  pine-cones ;  on  the  walls  are  prints-  etched  from 
paintings  by  masters  celebrated  in  the  old  world,  in 
home-made  frames  of  variegated  leaves  from  the  new. 

Tlie  windows  contribute  to  the  room  its  best  of  charm. 
Through  climbing  rose-sprays  fall  fleckered  rays  of  soft- 
ened light — creeps  in  the  fragrant  breath  of  unobtrusive 
mignonette,  and  odor  more  pronounced  from  the  brilliant 
sydonia,  showy  of  petal  and  of  perfume  alluringly  subtle. 
Of  all  these  alleviatives  to  the  sharp  ills  that  descend  as 
time-honored  heirlooms,  from  one  generation  to  another 
of  the  human  family,  the  sole  occupant  of  the  room,  a 
man  young  in  years  but  with  the  furrows  of  stern  en- 
durance on  his  brow,  was  keenly  sensible. 

The  door  opened,  and  a  sunny  faced  young  woman, 
dressed  in  plain  and  cheap  material,  but  with  that  per- 
fect adaptation  of  shade  and  contour  to  the  style  of  the 
wearer  that  constitutes  true  elegance  of  attire,  stole 
quietly  to  his  bedside. 

"  How  is  m_v  patient,  this  morning  ?" 

"Better,  Minnie  ;  the  songs  of  birds  are  not  like  the 
sounds  to  which  one  became  accustomed  at  St.  Marc's, 
and  the  scent  of  these  roses  brings  with  it  no  unpleasant 
reminder  like  that  of  tinctures  and  drugs.     It  was  for- 


THE   BLACK   PLUilE   EIFLES.  227 

tunate  for  us  that  your  father  lost  his  voice  in  that  last 
severe  bronchial  attack  which  forced  him  to  quit  his  post 
at  the  Institute.  A  god-send  to  us  this  ill-wind  to  our 
host.  Eh,  Ashbv?  There,  that  is  the  second  time  I 
have  spoken  to  him  and  received  no  answer.  Do  see  if 
anvthing  has  gone  amiss  with  the  poor  fellow." 

Noiselessly  she  crossed  the  room,  looking  in  upon  the 
bed-ridden  occupant  of  the  adjoining  apartment. 

"  He  is  sleeping,  Morland  ;  speak  low  or  we  shall  dis- 
turb him.  He  is  so  much  afraid  of  putting  us  to  the 
slightest  trouble  on  his  account,  that  the  least  we  can  do 
in  return  for  his  kindly  consideration  is  to  repay  it  with 
consideration  as  kind.  How  much  more  happy  he  seems 
here  than  he  was  at  St.  Marc's.  How  strongly  he  in- 
sisted on  coming  here  with  us,  and  wouldn't  take  '  jN'o  ' 
for  an  answer." 

"  That  is  where  he  was  right ;  hospital  accommoda- 
tions are  very  different  from  the  tender  cares  of  home ; 
and,  if  Mr.  Ashby  were  with  his  own  relatives,  he 
couldn't  be  more  faithfully  tended  than  he  is  here.  A 
precious  pair  of  incurables  that  spring-wagon,  with  its 
mattress  and  cushions,  and  its  horse  upon  the  full  walk, 
brought  you  as  recruits,  didn't  it  ?" 

"  You  are  no  longer  to  class  yourself  amongst  the  in- 
curables ;  on  the  list  of  convalescents  we  have  you, 
remember.  Think  how  light  are  your  sufferings  in 
comparison  with  those  vou  bore  in  the  dreary,,  bitter 
past." 

"  I  do  think  of  it,  and  with  thankfulness,  dear  con- 
soler ;  but  let  me  tell  you  one  thing.  I  had  hope  of 
ultimate  recovery  to  buoy  me  up  then ;  now  that  has 
gone,  and  with  it  half  my  courage." 

'^  Why  will  you  talk  in  this  dispiriting  way  ?  Only 
yesterday,  the  doctor  told  me  you  were  out  of  danger 
and  improving  daily." 

'^  Did  he  tell  you  that  the  sundered  tendons  in  my 


228  THE   TvITAL   TOLUNTEEP.S  ;    OE, 

foot  are  dead  ? — that  the  whole  foot  will  probably  wither, 
quite  likclj  as  high  as  the  knee  ? — tliat  I  shall  never 
walk  again  without  the  help  of  crutches  ? — that,  young 
as  I  am,  I  have  outlived  my  usefulness?  Oh,  Minnie  ! 
that  is  the  hardest  of  all  to  bear — not  a  creature  in  all 
this  weary  world  the  better  for  my  being  alive  in  it." 

"  Morl'and,  my  own,  you  are  not  to  talk  to  me  in  that 
despondent  tone  ;  it  is  not  right ;  it  is  not  true  ;  you  are 
not  wont  to  distress  me  with  phrase  so  ill  applied.  Not 
a  creature  in  the  world  the  better  for  your  living  in  it ! 
Do  I  not  rejoice  at  every  gleam  of  comfort  that  comes 
to  you  ?  Do  you  ever  sorrow  that  my  sorrow  is  not  in- 
calculably greater  than  if  it  rose  from  source  purely  per- 
sonal to  myself^  Your  gladness  is  mine,  with  tenfold 
increase ;  in  your  grief,  too,  I  proclaim  myself  rightful 
participant ;  and  if  you  deny  my  claim  you  wrong 
yourself  as  deeply  as  you  wrung  me." 

'•  You  are  looking  at  the  case  from  a  standpoint  en- 
tirely opposed  to  the  one  I  occupy.  The  very  fact 
that  my  ills  come  doubly  barbed  to  you  does  but 
strengthen  my  resolve  not  to  selfishly  inflict  upon  you 
such  burden  doubly  weighted.  I  would  have  devoted 
my  life  gladly  to  the  pleasing  task  of  making  yours 
happy ;  but  as  this  is  not  to  be,  let  me  explain  to  you, 
calml}^  and  candidly,  the  process  of  reasoning  by  which 
1  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  it  is  better  for  us  to 
part." 

"  I  will  listen  to  what  you  have  to  say  in  vindication 
of  the  course  you  have  decided  on  pursuing;  but  I  give 
you  fair  warning  that  I  shall  do  my  very  best  to  uj)set  the 
reasoning  you  deem  so  conclusive." 

"  Fully  appreciating  the  friendly  malice  of  this  threat, 
I  have,  lirst,  to  request  that  you  will  give  me  full  j^arti- 
culars  concerning  the  destruc;iun  of  the  powder  mill  in 
Avhich  the  whole  of  your  father's  available  funds  were 
invested." 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  229 

"  Certainly,  if  that  Trill  interest  yon.  The  mill  was 
built,  as  I  think  you  have  already  been  told,  of  lime- 
stone and  iron,  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  its  being  set 
on  fire.  In  addition  to  this  precaution,  a  sufficient 
guard  to  defend  it  against  assault  was  left  in  the  build- 
ing every  night.  There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  work- 
men, so  many  had  enlisted,  and  the  agent  for  the  Com- 
pany engaged  one,  who,  as  it  has  since  been  discovered, 
was  in  the  rebels'  interest.  It  takes  but  a  spark,  as  you 
are  aware,  to  blow  up  a  powder  mill ;  that  spark  was 
thrown  by  a  traitor's  hand,  and  the  Vv'hole  structure  left 
a  mass  of  ruins." 

"  And  your  father's  fortune  in  ruins  beside.  Do  not 
look  startled  ;  we  will  talk  the  matter  over  calmly. 
Broken  in  health,  weighed  down  by  increasing  infirmi- 
ties, he  will  have  quite  enough  to  do  in  obtaining  his 
own  livelihood,  without  taking  the  burden  of  my  sup- 
port upon  his  heavily-laden  shoulders.  As  I  have  lost 
the  power  to  earn  my  living  in  serving  my  country, 
surely  the  country  ought  to  provide  some  sort  of  asylum, 
however  humble,  for  those  who  served  it  faithfully 
while  strength  held  out.  I  shall  nnike  inquiries,  and 
ascertain  if  there  is  not  some  such  place  of  refuge  for 
disabled  cripples  like  me.  Of  course  I  have  long  con- 
sidered the  engagement  null  and  void,  binding  you  to 
such  a  stranded  wreck  as  I." 

"  My  '  stranded  wreck '  I  refuse,  point  blank,  to  leave 
to  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  What !  you  would  solicit 
aid  from  the  country  ;  but  that  lordly  arrogance,  which 
is  the  most  easily  besetting  sin  of  your  imperious  sex, 
will  not  let  you  stoop  to  accept  help  from  one  who 
would  work  for  you  with  pleasure  and  alacrity  a  thou- 
sandfold greater  than  for  herself.  Were  you  my  supe- 
rior in  strength,  I  would  lean  on  you  gladly ;  but  while 
I  am  the  stronger  of  the  two,  you  must  bow  that 
proud  spirit,  and  even  learn  to  kan  on  me.      You  are 


230  THE    RIVAL    YOLUXTEEES;    OH, 

goinor  to  no  asylum  save  such  as  I  can  provide  foi 
you.'" 

*'  But,  Minnie,  what  does  a  delicately-reared  little 
womanlike  you  know  about  earning  a  living?  What 
could  slender  hands  like  those  do  toward  providing  for 
our  maintenance?" 

"  Do  not  speak  too  slightingly  of  my  abilities  for  gain- 
ing a  livelihood  until  they  have  been  thoroughly  tested. 
I  know  I  cannot  scour  and  scrub  like  our  hard-palmed 
Cliloe  ;  but  if  I  cannot  put  these  hands,  whose  capabili- 
ties for  useful  employment  you  are  pleased  to  doubt,  to 
occupation  as  respectable  and  remunerative  as  many  a 
mode  of  labor  others  profitably  pursue,  it  will  then  be 
time  to  write  me  down  an  imbecile,  and  incapable. 
Music  has  always  been  to  me  a  recreation  ;  I  can  make  of 
it  something  better.  I  was  last  year  offered  a  situation 
as  soj^rano  singer  in  a  quartette  city  choir;  I  had  not 
the  courage  to  accept  the  offer  then ;  I  have  found  the 
courage  to  do  so  now.  Then,  I  could  give  lessons  on 
the  piano,  or  teach  a  juvenile  singing  school.  Miss 
Caruthers  would,  I  am  sure,  aid  me  in  procuring  pupils, 
and  that  is  a  sort  of  favor  I  could  ask  of  her  without 
any  diminution  of  my  own  self-respect.  Some  one 
spoke  ;  was  it  you  ?" 

"  Not  a  word." 

"  Then  it  must  have  been  Mr.  Ashby." 

She  crossed  to  the  open  door  of  his  room. 

'^  You  called  to  me,  I  think," 

"  Yes ;  I  wish  you  would  bring  me  writing  mate- 
rials ;  there  are  a  few  friends  in  the  city  I  wish  to  see, 
while  I  have  strength  to  converse." 

She  brought  him  paper,  pencil,  and  the  little  book 
whose  cover  he  proposed  using  as  writing-desk.  He 
was  not  even  able  to  raise  his  head  without  her  assist- 
ance, which  she  freely  rendered,  propping  it  up  with  pil- 
lows.    He  strove  to  grasp  the  pencil,  but  it  slipped 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  231 

from  his  nerveless  fingers,  tlie  little  book  sliding  from 
liis  hand. 

"  Let  me  write  for  yon,  Mr.  Ashbj  ;  it  is  over-taxing 
your  strength  to  make  the  attempt." 

^'  j^o  ;  this  is  the  last  labor  of  love  I  shall  ever  nn- 
dertal^e,  and  if  I  can  bnt  accomplish  it,  it  will  remain 
nnto  me  a  sweet  memory  to  my  very  latest  breath." 

'  By  dint  of  persevering  effort  he  succeeded  in  tracing 
a  few  irregular  lines.  Folding  and  directing  his  brief 
missive,  he  requested  that  it  might  at  once  be  sent  to 
the  office,  and  sank  back  in  a  state  of  complete  ex- 
haustion. 

'Next  morning,  a  vehicle  containing  three  persons 
made  its  appearance  at  the  garden  gate,  fronting  the 
cottage.  One  of  the  three  alighted  and  ran  up  the 
walk.     Minnie  met  him  at  the  outer  door. 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  Brandon.  I  am  in  great  haste, 
but  sit  down  in  this  hall  chair  a  mhiute,  as  I  have  news 
for  your  special  delectation,  if  the  proverbial  curiosity 
of  your  sex  has  not  been  grossly  exaggerated.  Think 
of  tidings  direct  from  Mr.  Caruthers !  Isn't  that  a 
tempting  bait  ?" 

"  Xot  particularly  so,  Mr.  Auverne  ;  although  I  am 
still  glad  to  be  assured  of  his  welfare." 

"  Tell  that  to  some  one  who  has  had  less  chance  than 
I  for  studying  j)oor  human  nature  in  its  phases  mutable 
and  perverse.  If  I  had  nothing  but  his  welfare  to  in- 
form you  of,  I'd  not  waste  breath  in  telling  what  you 
wouldn't  care  one  snaj)  of  your  finger  to  hear.  Poor 
Caruthers  is  in  no  end  of  trouble ;  so  call  up  your 
choicest  feminine  malice  in  delighted  anticipation  of 
revenge  for  past  slights." 

"  I  have  no  such  malignant  feeling  to  gratify,  I  do 
most  earnestly  assure  you.  There  was  a  mutual  mis- 
take between  us,  that  was  all ;  and  as  it  was  discovered 
in  season  to  admit  of  effectual  remedy,  there  was  no 


$S2  THE    EIYAL   TOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

lasting  harm  clone.  He  misunderstood  me  as  com- 
pletely as  I  misunderstood  him  ;  I  bear  him  no  grudge 
on  that  account,  as  I  hope  and  trust  he  bears  none 
toward  me." 

"  I  can  never  quite  make  you  out,  Miss  Brandon ; 
you  certainly  are  not  destitute  of  quick  feeling,  tlie 
result  of  the  vivid,  emotional  nature  incidental  to  your 
temperament ;  it  must  be  that  you  have  unusual  power 
of  self-command." 

"  I  perceive  that  you  suspect  me  of  some  sort  of  re- 
serve or  equivocation,  it  matters  the  less  what,  that 
your  suspicion  is  groundless.  .  I  have  seen  so  much  of 
sulfering  in  those  long  months  last  gone  by,  that  I  have 
learned  to  look  on  life  with  a  sadder  eye  than  most  j^er- 
sons  of  my  years.  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  already 
enough  of  human  sorrow  in  the  world ;  if  I  can  do 
nothing  toward  assuaging  the  same,  I  can,  at  least, 
refrain  from  adding  by  word  or  thought  to  the  misery 
of  any  fellow-mortal.  Believe  it  or  not,  I  should  be 
glad  to  receive  assurance  of  Mr.  Caruthers'  welfare ; 
and  if  any  evil  has  befallen  him,  no  one  will  regret  it 
more  sincerely  than  myself." 

"  You  heard,  of  course,  that  he  went  off  as  captain 
of  the  Black  Plume  RiHes,  who  were  ordered  south 
more  than  a  month  ago." 

'•  I  heard  notliing  of  the  kind  ;  a  hospital  is  no  place 
for  news  excepting  for  those  sick  and  disabled  ;  and 
here,  with  three  invalids  to  be  cared  for,  we  have  lived 
in  the  most  rigid  seclusion." 

"  It  was  in  strong  opposition  to  his  own  will  that  Mr. 
Caruthers  was  forced  into  military  service.  He  was 
captain  of  the  Black  Plumes  a  dozen  years  back  or  so, 
when  they  were  only  called  upon  to  do  esiort  duty  or 
meet  on  public  parade,  and  as  his  name  still  remainec^ 
on  the  roster  of  the  legion,  he  Avas  called  u^^on  to  head 
his  company,  and  leave  with  them  at  twenty-four  hours' 


THE    BLACK   PLU:^IE    EIFLES.  233 

notice.  Xot  that  lie  was  actnallv  compelled  to  go  ;  but 
if  he  had  deserted  his  post  in'  the  country's  "present 
strait,  public  opinion,  not  a  pleasant  thing  to  brave, 
would  have  set  in  strongly  against  him.  It  was  with  a 
rueful  countenance  he  started;  for  his  wedding  day  had 
been  agreed  upon,  and  a  trip  to  Europe  planned  in  lionor 
of  the  occasion." 

How  vividly  these  words  of  tlie  lawyer  recalled  to 
Minnie's  recollection  the  time  when  she  '^had  thought  to 
look  with  Mr.  Caruthers  on  sculptured  fountain,  carved 
arch,  storied  wall,  and  all  the  monuments  through  which 
old-w^orld  Art  has  proclaimed  itself  immortal.  With  a 
little  sigh  she  returned  to  memory's  crypt  the  dead  illu 
sion  erstwhile  so  vital,  so  fondly  cherished. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  his  disappointment,"  she  said,  gently; 
"  it  must  have  been  hard  to  bear." 

"  He  found  it  so.  I  do  not  believe  there  was  as  heavy 
a  heart  in  the  company  as  its  commander  bore  away 
with  him.  Good  cause  he  had,  too,  for  not  a  trump 
has  turned  up  for  him  in  the  game  of  life  since,  l^sot- 
withstanding  my  earnest  expostulations  against  the 
adoption  of  a  course  so  unwise,  he  persisted  in  present- 
ing Miss  Sears  with  a  warranted  deed  of  that  superb 
new  mansion  of  his.  I  told  him  repeatedly,  that  it 
w^ould  be  far  safer  not  to  place  in  her  unlimited  trust,  but 
rather  to  so  arrange  matters  as  to  foster  in  her  a  whole- 
some sense  of  dependence  on  his  generosity.  To  the 
policy  of  keeping  her  dependent  on  himself  lie  was  not 
in  the  least  opposed  ;  but  it  seems  that  he  had  a  presen- 
timent of  coming  evil,  and  was  not  inclined  to  leave  his 
bride  elect  to  the  tender  charities  of  his  mother  and 
sisters,  who  detest  her  most  cordially.  I  think  that 
by  this  time  he  rues  the  folly  that  led  him  to  set  my 
counsel  at  naught." 

"  Why,  has  Miss  Sears  abused  his  confidence  ?" 

"  Of  course  she  has  ;  exactly  as  I  predicted  she  would 


234  THE  KivAL  yolu2;teers;  or, 

do.  Xot  that  she  is  in  the  least  wicked  or  malicious 
of  intent — it  would  take  a  .deeper  stjio  of  woman — no 
offence  intended,  I  beg  leave  to  protest ;  for  that — but 
she  is  just  the  sort  of  person  that  i  would  no  more  trust 
with  the  unrestricted  control  of  a  fortune  than  a  mis- 
chievous urchin  in  dangerous  proximity  with  match-box 
and  shavings.  Last  week  I  heard  that  Mr.  Caruthers 
had  had  an  arm  shot  off,  and  was  otherwise  frightfully 
nnitilated  ;  three  days  later  jMiss  Sears  was  married, 
and  she  is  now  on  her  way  to  Paris." 

"  You  surprise  me :  Mr.  Caruthers  could  not  have 
been  fit  to  travel  so  soon  after  receiving  such  severe  in- 
juries." 

"  You  are  quite  right ;  Mr.  Caruthei'^  is  in  a  southern 
hospital,  and  Lucy  Sears  has  been  guilty  of  the  unpar- 
donable folly  of  marrying  a  Frenchman,  a  quondam 
music-master  of  hers,  who,  if  I  am  not  far  out  in  my 
reckoning,  will  lead  her  a  sorrier  life  than  any  she  ever 
began  to  dream  of.  "What  possessed  her  to  absolutely 
throw  away  her  chances  for  happiness  I  can't  begin  to 
imagine.  The  worst  aspect  of  the  affair  is,  that  the  mar- 
riage ceremonial  was  conducted  under  very  suspicious 
auspices  5  and,  if  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture,  that  the 
observance  was  not  conducted  in  strict  conformity  with 
legal  usage.  She  has  sown  the  wind,  and  must  reap 
its  natural  product  in  due  course  of  time.  She  seemed 
very  much  out  of  spirits  when  she  came  to  me,  not  a 
week  since,  requesting  my  advice  with  regard  to  let- 
ting her  house,  ready  furnished,  for  three  years.  She 
obtained  a  tenant  for  the  time  specified,  at  twenty-five 
hundred  per  annum  (rents  have  fallen,  as  you  are  aware), 
and  on  that  amount,  in  a  number  of  the  continental 
cities,  they  can  live  in  luxurious  style,  hiring  an  apart- 
ment in  an  antique  palace,  with  a  chariot  and  four,  and 
lackevs  to  correspond,  if  bent  on  ostentatious  display. 
Poor  Caruthers!" 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  235 

"  Poor  Miss  Sears  rather,  if  yoii  have  any  reason  to 
believe  that  her  marriage  has  not  been  legally  solemn- 
ized," 

"  It  may  be  nothing  more  than  a  snspicion  on  my 
2:)art,  strengthened  by  the  nnprincipled  character  of  the 
groom,  of  which  I  became  convinced  throngh  conflict- 
ing evidence  he  once  gave  in  a  case  where  I  was  enir 
ployed  as  counsel.  I  will  tell  you  the  flaws  I  see  cause 
to  suspect  in  the  preliminaries  to  this  marriage,  if  not  in 
its  actual  solemnization.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 
discover,  there  were  no  published  bands.  Another  cir- 
cumstance that  would  bear  inquiry  is,  that  Monsieur 
Meurice  is  a  Catholic,  and  it  was  not  according  to  Catho- 
lic ritual,  if  indeed  it  was  in  accordance  with  any  esta- 
blished form  of  church  ceremonial,  for  such  occasions 
made  and  provided,  that  this  wedding  was  conducted. 
In  my  opinion,  it  is  only  her  fortune  that  Monsieur  is 
after  ;  let  him  once  get  that  into  his  possession,  and,  in 
my  belief,  her  hold  on  him  would  be  greatly  weak- 
ened, if  not  wholly  destroyed.  The  day  she  called  on 
me  for  advice,  she  consulted  me  as  to  the  expediency  of 
selling  her  house — a  measure  I  strenuously  opposed,  as 
it  would  place  her  entirely  at  his  mercy.  I  will  tell 
you  how  it  chanced  that  I  was  the  first  one,  aside  from 
the  bogus  clergyman  ofiiciating  at  the  rite,  to  get  an 
inkling  of  the  game  that  was  being  played.  I  was  walking 
in  great  haste,  down  an  avenue,  when  a  woman,  closely 
veiled  and  in  a  grey  travelling  suit,  started  to  come 
down  the  broad  flight  of  stone  steps  leading  from  the 
covered  porch  of  the  Gresham  boarding-house.  The 
heels  of  her  boots  being  too  high  and  tapering  for  secure 
foothold,  she  made  a  misstep  and  woidd  have  fallen  if 
I  had  not  lent  her  a  helping  hand.  I  recognized  and 
spoke  to  her,  addressing  her  as  Miss  Sears.  '  Allow  me 
— Madame  Meurice' — corrected  a  man,  got  up  in  the 
highest  style  of  art,  and  overpoweringly  perfumed  with 


236  THE    RIVAL    VOLU>.'TEErwS  ;    01?, 

'lilv-dew' and 'breath  of  balm  perennial.'  She  intro- 
duced me  to  her  husband,  and  he  made  me  acquainted 
^vith  the  Rev.  Abcdnego  Witherspoon,  ^vho,  it  seems, 
had  just  united  them  in'the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock.  An 
odd  spoon,  I  must  say,  the  parson  looked,  with  a  long 
cigar  in  his  mouth,  a  knowing  leer  of  the  eye,  a  hat  set 
jauntily  on  one  side,  a  flashy 'waistcoat,  and  a  stunning 
neck-tie.^  I  jumped  at  once'  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
swaggering  Witherspoon  was  much  more  likely  to  have 
received  t!ie  hand  of  fellowship  from  some '^sporting 
brother  of  the  turf  than  from  any  of  the  regularly 
ordained  sacerdotal  authorities.  Those  superstitiously 
inclined  might  have  found  a  bad  omen,  also,  in  the 
fact,  that  the  sun  did  not  shine  on  the  bride.  The  first 
drops  of  a  thunder-shower  sprinkled  her  dress  as  she 
stepped  across  the  sidewalk  to  the  carriage  in  waiting, 
as  if  the  skies  wept— did  you  know  1  could  be  poetical, 
Miss  Brandon  ?— at  the  poor  child's  sad  fate.  The  truth 
is,  that  she  is  such  an  impulsive,  warm-hearted,  foolish, 
confiding,  shallow  creature,  that  she  interests  me  by  her 
very  need  of  such  interest ;  and  I  would  a  thousand 
times  quicker  do  her  a  good  turn  than  one  of  your  strong- 
minded  females,  who  demand  a  favor  at  the  sword's 
point,  never  of  grace  or  courtesy,  and  ask  of  you  no  bet- 
ter concession  than  to  keep  out  of  their  sunshine. 

"Who  is  this  Mr.  Ashby  that  has  written  me  to  come 
to  him  at  my  earliest  possible  convenience  ?" 

''I  supposed  you  was  a  friend  of  his  when  I  saw,  yes- 
terday, that  his  letter  was  directed  to  you,  as  he  said 
he  wished  to  see  some  friends  fi-om  the  city  before  his 
strength  failed  ;  and  I  supposed  it  was  in  answer  to  that 
summons  you  came." 

"  I  have  no  recollection  of  ever  having  seen  a  man  of 
that  name ;  but  let  me  go  to  him  and  I  will  soon  find 
out  what  he  wants." 

Minnie,  having  ascertained  that  the  sick  man  was 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   TJFLES.  237 

awake,  and  eagerly  desirous  of  an  immediate  interview 
with  the  lawyer,  communicated  this  fact  to  the  latter, 
who  proceeded  at  once  to  the  invalid's  room. 

Xearly  an  hour  elapsed  before  the  legal  gentleman 
came  hurriedly  out  of  the  apartment  toVhich  he  had 
been  shown,  and  the  two  men  who  had  remained  out- 
side in  the  carriage  were  beckoned  in,  accompanying 
him  to  the  room  he  had  just  quitted.  A  minute  later, 
Mr.  Auverne  once  more  made  his  appearance,  this  time 
motioning  Minnie  to  follow  him. 

'_•  The  effort  of  directing  a  disposition  of  his  effects  has 
quite  overcome  him,"  explained  the  lawyer  in  a  sub- 
dued tone.  "  He  has  asked  for  you  ;  prepare  yourself 
to  see  a  great  change  in  him.'' 

Mr.  Ashby  held  out  his  hand  to  her  as  she  approached 
his  bedside. 

''Quick I"  he  adjured  her. 

Springing  forward,  she  grasped  his  ice-cold  palm. 

"  Air !"  he  entreated,  gasping  for  breath. 

Mr.  Auverne  threw  open  the  window  near  the  head 
of  the  bed.  Minnie  raised  the  head  of  the  sufferer  on 
her  arm,  that  he  might  be  the  sooner  revived  by  the  en- 
tering breeze. 

^  In  vain  for  him,  the  breath  of  the  wind  that  fanned 
his  cheek.^  For  the  last  time  has  his  hand  been  clasped  ; 
for  it  is  his  no  longer.  jSTever  again  will  that  head  be 
pillowed  on  friendry  arm  ;  for  the  mysterious  intelligence 
that  made  it  human  and  precious  has  fled.  One  more 
straggling  mortal  has  been  swept  from  life's  narrow 
strand  by  the  resistless  waves  of  that  viewless,  boundless 
sea  that  will,  full  soon,  wash  also  our  shallow  footprints 
from  the  sandv  shores  of  time. 


Morland  Ellsmead,  for  the  first  time  in  many  weeks, 
had  been  able  to  don  dressing-gown  and  slippers,  and 


238  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

Bat  m  an  easy-chair,  enjoying  with  the  zest  of  a  novel 
experience,  the  a*oses  and  their  foliage  of  vivid  green 
draping  the  window  of  his  room.  About  him  were 
grouped  the  members  of  the  little  household. 

Mr.  Auverne  had  been  reading  aloud  tlie  will  he  had 
recently  drawn  up  for  the  deceased.  It  Avas  not  a 
lengthy  document ;  but  its  verbose  technical  repetitions 
there  is  no  occasion  to  chronicle.  The  brief  conversa- 
tion I  am  about  to  record  will  sufficiently  explain  itself. 

"He  kept  his  secret  well,"  remarked  the  lawyer; 
"  not  one  of  you  having  ever  suspected  that  the  pros- 
pective benefactor  you  were  entertaining  unawares  was 
none  other  than  Falkland  Courcelle." 

"  If  I  had  but  known  he  was  my  mother's  nearest 
surviving  relative,"  Minnie  regretfully  subjoined,  '•  I 
should  have  felt  more  at  liberty  than  I  did  to  olier '  the 
constant  attentions  his  condition  required,  but  which  he 
was  so  slow  to  claim." 

"  I  am  sure  you  have  nothing  to  reproach  yourself 
with  on  the  score  of  neglect,"  Morland  warmly  inter- 
posed. "  K  he  had  been  your  own  brother  you  could 
not  have  been  more  kind." 

"He  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,"  added  Mr. 
Auverne,  "  that  your  kindness  proceeded  from  purely 
disinterested  motives— a  rarity  in  this  self-seeking  gene- 
ration. His  incognito  also  gave  him  the  opportunity  of 
thoroughly  convincing  himself  that  you  were  worthy  of 
the  fine  inheritance  he  has  bequeathed  to  you,  or  rather 
to  Mr.  Ellsmead,  which  is  a  different  means  of  reaching 
the  same  result.  Only  a  single  restriction,-  and  that  not 
difficult  of  compliance,  clogging  his  acceptance  of  the 
estate;  that  he  shall  assume  the  name  of  Courcelle  on 
the  day  of  his  marriage  v\dth  Miss  Brandon,  when  the 
title  deeds  of  Pre-Fleuri  are  to  be  placed  in  his  posses- 
sion. A  highly  valuable  piece  of  property  it  is,  too, 
with  its  rich  alluvial  soil  adapted  to  every  species  of 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  239 

fiulture,  ample  tenements  for  all  the  laborers  it  may  re- 
quire to  carry  it  on,  and  the  roomy  brick  mansion-honse, 
spacious  if  old-fashioned  and  ill-contrived,  built  by  the 
grandfather  of  the  present  testator.  To-be  sure,  the 
place  look^,  with  its  nntilled  fields,  and  unpruned  fruit- 
trees,  a  little  forlorn  and  deserted,  just  now  ;  but  occu- 
pancy and  anything  like  tolerable  husbandry  will 
remedy  this  temporary  neglect,  and  make  it  the  garden 
it  nsed  to  be.  Exact  to  "the  verge  of  punctiliousness, 
this  Mr.  Courcelle  has  been  in  carrying  out  the  washes 
of  his  deceased  annts.  He  not  only  stipulates  for  the 
enfranchisement  of  their  colored  dependents,  bnt  has,  in 
addition  to  this  liberality,  made  suitable  provision  for 
their  support  in  case  of  sickness  or  destitution.  "Wish- 
ing you  many  years  enjoyment  of  your  newly-acquired 
fortune,  I  may  also  wish  you  a  very  '  Good  day.' " 

Minnie  watched  the  laVyer  as  he  drove  a\yay,  and 
then  drawing  a  low  stool  near  the  chair  in  which  Mor- 
land  reclined,  sat  down  beside  him. 

"  You  see,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  snbdued  thankful- 
ness, ''  that,  after  all  the  impatience  you  have  felt  at  the 
helpless  condition  to  which  wounds  ""nobly  earned  have 
reduced  you,  Providence  has  marked  out  for  yon  a 
path  of  usefulness.  You  will  soon,  we  have  good 
ground  for  hoping,  be  strong  enough  to  oversee  the 
laborers  on  your  estate,  and  then  you  will  once  more 
have  it  in  your  power  to  aid  the  cause  you  have  so  zeal- 
ously upheld,  and  to  make  your  life  a  blessing  to  others 
in  the  many  ways  your  own  generous  heart  will  dictate." 

"  I  put  'in  my  claim  for  the  first  guerdon  to  be  dis- 
pensed," interposed  Mr.  Brandon— ''namely,  a  quiet 
nook  for  book-cases  -and  book-worm  in  the  new  home." 

"  It  would  not  be  home  without  the  dear  father  he  has 
been  to  me,  the  true  friend  and  sao-e  adviser  he  has 
always  proved  himself  to  you,  would  it,  Morland  ?" 

"I  have  not  yet  become  accustomed  to  my  new  hon- 


24:0  THE    KITAL    VOLUNTEERS  J    OR, 

ors,  Minnie.  I  have  become  soused  to  being  the  object 
of  Mr.  Brandon's  bounty,  that  I  can  hardly  persuade 
myself  that  the  privilege  of  returning,  in  part,  tiie  heavy 
obligations  I  owe  him  is  really  mine  to  enjoy;  for  what- 
ever I  give  to  one  so  near  to  you  will  be  scarcely  a  gift, 
as  the  means  for  giving  came  through  your  relative,  and 
solely  on  your  account.'' 


CHAPTEE   XY. 


eeapixCt  the  whirlwind. 


Chill  moaned  the  autumn  winds  about  the  corners 
and  casements  of  a  small,  plain  dwelling;  but  the  little 
parlor  inside  was  bright  and  cosey,  and  beside  the  grate 
with  its  glowing  jets  of  flickering  flame  sat  two  women 
— their  conversation  will  tell  who. 

"  1  did  not  know,  Mrs.  Thornton,  that  so  much  wretch- 
edness could  be  crowded  into  so  short  a  time  as  that 
which  has  passed  since  I  left  you.  I  look  ten  years 
older  than  when  I  went  away  from  here,  you  must  have 
noticed  that." 

"  You  certainly  are  looking  pale  and  worn ;  but  you 
have  only  yourself  to  thank  for  it.  It  would  have  been 
better  for  you  to  have  heeded  my  warning  when  I  re- 
peatedly told  you  that  whoever  trangressed  the  plain 
rules  of  right  must  pay  the  bitter  penalty  to  the  utter- 
most farthing." 

"I  suppose  what  you  say  is  true,  but  it  is  none  the 
more  consoling  on  that  account.  "Will  this  wind  never 
have  done  with  its  dismal  wail  about  the  corner?  Has 
every  pleasant  sound  gone  out  of  the  world,  or  is  it 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    KIFLES.  24:1 

that  my  ear  will  take  in  nothing  but  broken  and  jangled 
chords  ?  I  tried  the  piano  to-day,  and  it  mnst  be  sadly 
out  of  tune,  for  everything  I  undertook  to  play  was  as 
dismal  as  this  howlino;  wind.  JSTothino-  that  I  undertake 
prospers.  Since  1  have  gone  wrong  everything  goes 
wrong  with  me.  How  coukl  I  have  been  so  infatuated 
as  to  take  the  course  I  did  ?  It  is  too  late  to  talk  of 
that;  I  have  cause  enough  for  present  worriment.  A 
woman  isn't  fit  to  have  the  care  of  renting  and  repair- 
ing an  elegantly  furnished  house  like  mine  ;  it  was  a 
gift  from  Pandora's  box,  and  has  brought  nothing  but 
heart-burnings  and  misery  in  its  train;  while  I  keep  it 
I  never  expect  to  know  a  moment's  peace,  and  shall  cer- 
tainly never  be  safe  from  the  pursuit  of  Monsieur  Meu- 
rice.  I  am  in  deadly  terror  of  that  man,  he  has  such 
treacherous,  wily  ways  of  gaining  any  purpose  on  which 
lie  has  fairly  set  his  heart.  I  deprive  myself  of  every 
pleasant  out-of-door  sight  from  fear  of  seeing  him.  I 
sit  in  my  chamber  with  locked  door,  and  window-shades 
closely  drawn,  lest  b}'  some  sly  underhanded  device  he 
should  gain  access  to  the  lower  part  of  the  house,  and 
so  find  his  way  to  me.  "When  I  go  out  for  a  walk  it  is 
with  a  double  veil  over  my  face  and  by  the  least  fre- 
quented streets.  It  is  a  horribly  unnatural  life  to  lead, 
this  skulking  round  and  shrinking  from  the  light  of  day, 
from  the  eye  of  all  human  kind,  as  I  have  done  since  I 
escaped  the  toils  in  which  nobody  but  a  shallow  witling 
like  me  would  have  been  caught." 

"Why,  Lucy,  you  are  in  worse  spirits  than  you  were 
yesterday.  Has  anything  new  happened  to  distress  you  ? 
I>[ow  I  think  of  it,  you  have  been  gloomier  than  before 
ever  since  you  went  to  see  Lav/jer  Auverno."  * 

"  I  have  had  good  reason  for  being  so.  He  vv^ent  with 
me  to  look  at  my  house,  and  such  a  state  as  we  found  il 
in  I  The  carved  walnut  of  the  furniture  and  balustei 
scrolls  all  scratched  up  with  pins  by  the  children  ;  the 

11 


242  THE  KivAL  volunteers;  on, 

canvas  carpets  of  the  basement  stoiy  riddled  like  a  sieve 
with  the  sharp  points  of  their  tops;  frescoes  soiled  and 
defaced  bv  hard  usuage,  damasks  and  canopies  full  of 
moths,  and  gildings  tarnished  and  peelins:  from  their 
frames  for  the  want  of  drying  and  airing,  i  could  have 
cried  at  sight  of  that  lovely  statuette  of  Lurline,  en- 
cliantress  of  the  Ivre,  who  harped  so  sweetly  on  the  shore 
tliat  the  fishes  gambolled  at  her  feet  to  listen — there  she 
was  with  her  nose  broken  off  and  stuck  on  with  vile, 
colored  cement.  "Who  would  buy  a  sea-nymph  with  a 
patched  up  nose  like  that  ?  I  could  not  have  been  more 
unfortunate  in  the  selection  of  a  tenant.  A  quarter's 
rent  due,  but  not  a  cent  of  it  forthcoming.  Worse  than 
that,  I  am  almost  sure  they  have  exchanged  those  rich 
brocatelle  curtains  in  the  large  drawing-room  for  others 
of  the  same  color,  but  made  of  some  sort  of  cheap  cotton 
and  worsted  stuff.*' 

"  I  should  think  you  would  prefer  having  your  house 
stand  empty  to  seeing  it  injured  in  this  way." 

''  So  I  would,  if  I  had  any  other  source  of  income ; 
and  even  as  it  is,  I  would  rather  run  the  risk  of  finding 
another  tenant  than  keep  the  one  I  have ;  but  Mr, 
Auverne  says  it  is  impossible  to  summarily  e;ject  them. 
There  is  another  thing  that  troubles  me  ;  I  have  received 
a  reply  to  the  letter  I  wrote  Mr.  Carutliers,  deprecating 
his  anger  and  entreating  his  forgiveness.  I  do  not  know 
what  to  make  of  his  answer.  As  nearly  as  I  can  find 
out,  he  doesn't  seem  disposed  to  overlook  or  pardon  the 
past,  letting  bygones  be  bygones.  Here  is  what  he 
writes,  or  rather  somebody  for  him,  the  writing  is  not  in 
his  hand : 

"  '  Come  to  me.  I  ^^11  hear  the  story  from  you  own 
lips  or  not  at  all.' 

-'  What  shall  I  do  ?     I  can't  go." 

"  Certainly  you  can  go  ;  the  entire  route  between  this 
place  and  the  town  where  he  is  lying  wounded  is  entirely 


THE   BLACK    PLUIME    RIFLES.  243 

"  O,  it  is  not  anv  clanger  on  the  ioiirnej  tliat  I  dread." 

''What  then?" 

'' I  dread  to  meet  the  man  whom  I  have  given  good 
cause  to  overwhebn  me  vrith  npbraiding  and  reproach." 

"  It  is  very  generous  of  him,  I  thinls:,  to  be  willing  to 
hear  jou  in  jour  own  vindication." 

"  But  I  cannot  vindicate  myself — there's  the  sting, 
Whatever  should  I  saj  to  him  ?" 

"  Tell  him  the  whole  story  as  he  requests — tell  it  with- 
out the  slightest  concealment  or  prevarication,  as  you 
told  it  to  me  on  your  first  return." 

"  O,  Mrs.  Thornton,  he  would  never  listen  with  the 
indulgent  forbearance  you  showed  me.  How  shall  I  ever 
confess  to  him  the  ungrateful  return  I  have  made  for  all 
the  benefits  he  has  showered  upon  me?" 

''It  is  the  only  wise  and  safe  course  left  you  to 
pursue." 

"  But,  supposing  he  should  be  stern  and  severe,  re- 
proving me  harshly  for  my  misdoings — I  have  been 
through  so  much  that  I  never  could  endure  it." 

'•  Do  you  merit  anything  better  at  his  hands  ?" 

'•  Perhaps  not ;  but  my  deserving  it  doesn't  make  it 
any  the  easier  for  me  to  bear.  He  will  say  that  I  left 
him  because  he  was  maimed  and  disfigured  for  life  ;  but, 
I  am  sure,  it  wasn't  that,  though  I  did  once  declare  that 
I  never  could  marry  a  cripple,  or  be  seen  promenading 
Grand  Avenue  with  such  a  one ;  but  I  have  learned, 
since  then,  to  value  a  kind  and  feeling  heart  as  I  never 
valued  one  before." 

"  Say  this  to  Mi*.  Caruthers  rather  than  to  me,  Lucy, 
and  I  am  convinced  you  will  have  no  cause  to  regret 
your  openness  and  candor.  I  earnestly  recommend  you 
to  go  to  him,  at  once,  in  compliance  with  his  express 
desire." 

'•  Well,  what  must  be,  must.  If  I  stop  to  think  it 
over,  I  shall  never  find  courage  to  start,  so  I  will  not 


244  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

take  time  for  reflection,  but  go  straight  to  j\[r.  Auverne 
for  some  papers  and  directions  I  shall  need  on  my 
journey." 

A  most  dreary,  drizzly  and  comfortless  journey  it 
proved,  but  one  not  marked  by  any  mishap  worthy  of 
note.  Tlie  hack  she  had  taken  at  the  station-house 
drew  up  in  front  of  a  handsome  and  commodious  stone 
mansion. 

'*  This  is  the  street  and  number  to  which  you  directed 
me  to  drive,"  announced  the  hackman,  lowering  the 
steps  for  her  to  descend. 

'*  There  must  be  some  mistake,"  she  objected,  draw- 
ing back  with  a  look  of  hesitation  and  mistrust ;  ''  this 
splendid  structure  neyer  could  have  been  intended  for 
a  hospital." 

^'  Certingly  not ;  they  don't  have  them  dandy  curtains 
and  marble  cuttings  and  curvings  to  hospittles.  The  fact 
is,  this  structur  has  come  to  a  better  use,  by  all  odds, 
than  its  owner  ever  meant  it  for.  The  man  as  built  it — 
a  powerful  rich  man,  too — has  gone  off  a  rebeleering  ; 
and,  to  come  up  with  him,  they  have  confiscated  liis 
house,  which  is  full  of  sick  soldiers,  and  peace  be  to  their 
ashes,  and  all  whom  it  may  concern.  Shall  I  take  your 
portmanteau,  or  whatever  you  call  it  ?" 

''  Thank  you ;  I  can  take  it  myself,  it  is  quite  light." 

''  Shall  I  give  a  pull  at  the  door-bell  ?" 

"I  need  not  put  you  to  any  farther  trouble;  here  is 
your  fare.  Can  I  see  Mr.  Caruthers  ? "  she  asked  of  the 
servant  who  answered  her  summons  at  the  door. 

"  I  don't  know  of  anything  to  prevent,"  was  the  stolid 
reply;  "but  perhaps  you  had  better  ask  himself.  That 
is  his  room,  the  third  on  the  first  landing  ;  '  green-room,' 
it  says  on  the  label 'tied  to  the  key,  so  you  can't  miss  it." 

AVith  slow,  reluctant  step,  Lucy  followed  the  direc- 
tions thus  given,  pausing  before  the  oi)en  door  of  the 
room  she  sought,  thus  gaining  an  unobstructed  view  of 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    ETFLES.  24:5 

its  occupant.  How  different  the  reality  from  the  scene 
her  fancy  had  pictnred.  She  had  expected  to  find  Mr. 
CaVnthers  surrounded  by  all  the  discomforts  of  the 
roughly  constructed  hospital  barracks  she  had  seen  at 
Camp  Boli\"ar;  but  there  he  sat  in  a  luxuriously  fur- 
nished apartment,  a  little  paler  and  thinner  than  for- 
merly, whereby  lie  was  in  personal  appearance  much 
in:iproved.  A  slight  discoloration  of  cheek  and  forehead, 
a  deep  scar  on  the  left  temple,  and  the  right  arm  sus- 
pended in  a  sling,  were  the  only  visible  effects  of  the 
wounds  he  had  received.  Xot  an  item  in  his  surround- 
ings escaped  her  penetrating  gaze. 

In  a  capacious  arm-chair  upholstered  in  green  plush, 
he  comfortably  lounged.  A  newspaper  he  had  appar- 
ently been  reading  was  held  carelessly  in  his  left  hand. 
The  dressing-robe  of  Chinese  fabric  he  wore  was  faced 
at  cuff  and  collar  with  crimson  satin,  curiously  picked 
out  with  elaborate  stitching.  Little  threads  of  gold 
glistened  in  the  maroon-colored  velvet  of  his  slippers. 
His  eyes  complacently  rested  on  a  slender-necked 
Bohemian  jar  filled  with  choicest  flowers;  he  always 
had  a  weakness  for  lovely  colors  and  sweet  odors. 

For  the  first  time  his  intended  visitor,  herself  as  yet 
unperceived,  bethought  her  of  her  own  haggard,  forlorn 
appearance,  and  travel-stained  attire.  Creeping  to  the 
head  of  the  staircase,  she  consulted  the  mirror  which, 
from  the  back  of  a^  alcove,  reflected  a  group  of  J^ereids 
in  alabaster.  Disconsolate  enough  the,  living  image 
reflected  by  the  glass.  A  pale,  sad  face,  with  heavy 
eyes  of  rueful  look  ;  a  grey  bonnet  of  flabby  cap  crown 
and  unbecoming  scoop  ;  the  strings  creased  and  crum- 
pled, ruches  disconsolately  drooping,  and  flowers  so 
limp  that  threads  of  the  tinted  muslin  whence  they 
derived  their  origin,  all  too  distinctly  revealed  them- 
selves. 

"  I  am  looking  and  feeling  my  very  worst,"  she  said 


246  THE    RIVAL   TOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

to  herself;  "  but  it  is  too  late  to  mend  matters  now  ;  a 
bold  dash  is  all  that  remains  to  me,  and  the  quicker  it 
is  made  the  sooner  it  will  be  over." 

She  made  an  attempt  to  smooth  her  hair,  rubbed 
some  blotches  of  mud  from  her  travellinir  dress,  pulled 
out  the  bow  at  her  cliin,  and  tapped  at  Mr.  Caruthers' 
door.  lie  turned  with  listless,  languid  air,  and  without 
the  least  appearance  of  surprise,  looked  her  calmly  in 
the  face. 

"Is  it  possible,"  he  composedly  inquired,  "that  I 
liave  the  pleasure  of  addressing  Madame  Meurice  ? 
Pray  be  seated,  Madame." 

The  little  conciliatory  speech  deprecatory  of  his 
anger,  and  begging  that  he  would  not  wholly  condemn 
her  until  he  had  given  her  an  opportunity  for  stating 
all  the  circumstances  palliative  of  her  ofience  fled  her 
memory  on  the  instant.  She  had  been  prepared  to 
meet  his  reproaches  with  free  and  contrite  confession, 
with  humiliatory  and  abject  acknowledgment  even ; 
but  this  immovable  inditterence  from  one  who  had 
never  before  hesitated  in  manifesting,  both  by  word  and 
deed,  the  warmest  interest  in  her  welfare,  overcame  her 
entirely,  and  she  sank  into  the  first  seat  that  came  in 
her  way,  wholly  oblivious  of  the  fact  that  she  had  been 
guilty  of  the  rudeness  of  leaving  his  question  unan- 
swered. 

"  You  sent  for  me,  and  I  have  come,"  she  said,  with 
a  dreary  sigh.  ^ 

"  It  was  more  than  I  had  a  right  to  expect ;  it  was 
not  of  a  piece  with  your  ordinary  conduct  of  late,"  he 
moodily  rejoined ;  addiug,  with  scant  courtesy,  "  your 
appearance  shows  that  you  have  had  a  stormy  and  tire- 
some journey,  Madame  Meurice." 

"  I  Vv'ish  you  would  not  call  me  by  that  name ;  I  lay 
no  claim  to  it  now." 

"  You  had  better  lay  claim  to  it ;  I  can  tell  you  that. 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  247 

Of  your  treatment  of  me  I  have  notliing  to  say ;  don't 
flatter  yonrsclf  that  you  liaye  hurt  me  too  seriously  for 
recoyery;  I  shall  get  over  it.  False  as  you  haye 
proved,  I  have  no  desire  to  see  you  go  from  bad  to 
worse.  You  have  made  your  choice,  and  must  abide 
by  it.  You  can't  be  so  entirely  devoid  of  common 
sense  as  to  suppose  that,  in  a  miff,  you  can  throw  off 
your  husband's  name  and  take  another ;  such  a  suicidal 
step  leaves  you — nowhere.  I  talk  with  you  as  Madame 
Meurice,  or  I  talk  with  you  not  at  all." 

His  listener  colored  deeply  with  indecision,  bewilder- 
ment, and  distress.  An  embarrassing  silence  ensued, 
which  she  broke  as  soon  as  she  could  trust  her  yoice  to 
speak,  by  saying, 

''  I  am  rejoiced  to  find  your  injuries  so  much  less 
serious  than  I  had  feared.  AYe  heard  that  your  arm 
was  shot  off,  and  your  skull  most  probably  fractured." 

"  The  wild  way  in  which  unofficial  army  reports  usu- 
ally fly.  It  was  my  horse  that  was  shot  under  me.  I 
procured  another  which  turned  out  as  yicious  a  brute  as 
ever  yielded  to  curb  and  spur ;  not  that  he  ever  did  yield 
to  them,  or  showed  himself  in  the  slightest  degree  in- 
clined that  way.  His  worst  trick  was  stopping  suddenly, 
at  the  top  of  his  speed,  and  pitching  his  rider  oyer  his 
head.  That  was  the  way  he  served  me,  sending  me  head- 
long oyer  a  stone  wall,  breaking  my  arm  in  two  places ; 
and,  I  really  thought,  at  first,  crushing  in  my  forehead 
like  a  bandbox.  You  thought  so  too — thought  I  was 
fairly  shelyed,  and  so  hastened  to  secure  the  first  eligible 
ofler  that  turned  up,  by  way  of  consolation  for  my  loss." 

''  Do  show  some  mercy ;  I  haye  suflered  so  much," 
Lucy  piteously  im.plored. 

He  was  not  mercifully  disposed,  and  went  on. 

"  Dolt  that  I  was  to  dream  of  faith  and  constancy 
from  a  creature  who  finds  her  aptest  type  in  the  shifting 
winds  that  blow   as  they  list.     The  return   you  have 


248  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

made  for  the  trust  I  placed  in  you ;  for  all  the  efforts  I 
liave  made  to  secure  your  happiness  and  well-being; 
for  all  the  pains  I  took  to  provide  for  your  comfortable 
maintenance,  in  case  I  should  fall  in  battle — for  all 
this  kindness  and  forethought,  I  say  that  your  return 
has  been  that  of  a  base  and  thankless  ingrate.  Can  you 
deny  it  ?" 

'- 1  cannot  deny  it,"  she  faltered,  with  bitter,  burning 
tears  in  her  eyes. 

"  How  long,"  he  asked,  with  gathering  wrath,  "  since 
you  became  infatuated  with  this  moustached  exquisite 
of  a  foreigner  ?" 

"  I  never  was  infatuated  with  him,"  she  earnestly  pro- 
tested. 

"  Well,  then,  since  you  beg  the  plainer  question,  how 
long  is  it  since  you  were  married  ? 

"  I  never  was  really  married." 

Ml-.  Caruthers'  brow  grew  black  as  night,  and  his 
whole  face  stern  to  the  verge  of  austerity. 

"  Xever  really  married  !"  he  enunciated  with  wither- 
ing accent;  "  then  you  had  better  have  died  than  have 
gone  off  with  that  man,  as  you  did,  with  no  wedding 
symbol  on  your  lingei',  no  solemnly  pledged  vow  on  your 
lip.  It  is  true,  then,  that  you  have  no  rightful  claim 
to  any  name  other  than  that  you  have  always  borne." 

"  It  is  true,"  she  hesitatingly  admitted,  averting  her 
glance,  and  cowering  beneath  his  look. 

"  That  I  should  live  to  hear  you  confess  to  accusation 
that  no  one  but  yourself  could  have  made  me  deem 
credible  of  belief;  to  learn  that  the  woman  who  sat  as 
a  petted  child  on  my  knee,  and  beguiled  me  of  my  time 
with  her  innocent  prattle,  has  given  just  cause  to  any 
for  mocking  gibe  and  scoff.  Know,  Lucy  Sears,  that  it 
is  hard  enough  for  a  man  to  face  the  scorn  of  the  world  ; 
but  to  a  woman,  it  is  blight,  infamy,  ruin.  As  well 
might  a  lily  attempt  to  withstand  the  hurricane's  rush, 


THE   BLACK   PLOIE   KIFLES.  249 

as  a  ^oman  think  to  brave  the  blasting  breath  of  pub- 
lic scandal.'' 

At  lirst  she  had  been  shocked  and  bewildered  by  his 
words,  and  deeply  pained  bv  his  manner  of  speaking 
them ;  but  it  was  not  until  she  uoted  the  scorniiil  flash 
of  his  eye,  the  contemptuous  curl  of  his  lip,  that  the  fall 
significance  of  the  withering  rebuke  he  had  uttered 
burst  upon  her  amazed  comprehension. 

Then  the  scalding  tears  in  her  eyes  were  qnenched  in 
the  burning  gleam  of  anger ;  and  through  her  entire 
being  seethed  a  sense  of  wrong  and  outrage  as  concen- 
trated and  intense  as  it  was  in  her  nature  to  know. 

Tossing  back  the  hair  from  her  heated  brow,  and  un- 
consciously crushino-  the  artificial  flowers  wreathed 
across  her  head,  she  impetuously  made  reply : 

"  I  have  been  weak  and  imprudent,  quite  likely  ;  I 
have  been  duped  and  deceived,  very  surely ;  but  a  God- 
forsaken creature  for  woman  to  shun  and  man  to  sneer 
at,  nexer.  I  did  not  know  you  could  be  so  hard  and 
cruel.  I  did  not  know  that  you  could  with  only  words 
— Vv'ords  ? — daggers  !  so  strike  me  to  \\\(i  heart.  Let  me 
go.  I^To  one  has  scufted  at  me  but  yon  ;  and  I  will  put 
such  space  between  us  that  you  shall  not  wound  me 
by  a  second  blow  like  this." 

She  groped  her  way  blindly  toward  the  door;  but 
unable  to  proceed  more  than  a  few  steps,  sank  half 
fainting  upon  a  lounge,  crushing  her  bonnet  against  the 
cushions  supporting  her  head. 

Mr.  Caruthers  was  seriously  alarmed  at  the  unlooked- 
for  eft'ect  his  words  had  produced. 

"  Do  not  agitate  yourself  in  this  way,"  he  soothingly 
entreated.  "  I  must  have  drawn  a  wrong  inference 
from  your  admission ;  don't  think  of  it  again ;  there  is 
no  harm  done." 

She  neither  moved  nor  spoke. 
11* 


250  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

He  crossed  hastily  to  her  side,  and  with  his  left  arm 
turned  her  head  so  that  he  could  see  the  face. 

Her  eyes  were  closed,  her  pearly  teeth  just  visible  be- 
tween the  white  and  parted  lips. 

His  sudden  aharm  deepened  into  the  gravest  appre- 
liension,  betrayed  by  the  assertion  through  which  he 
sought  to  reassure  himself:  "  It  cannot  be  that  a  woman 
is  so  easily  killed." 

Removing  her  bonnet  so  awkwardly  as  greatly  to  add 
to  its  defacement,  lie  tossed  it  upon  the  floor ;  and  dip- 
ping his  handkerchief  in  water,  laid  it  wet  and  dripping 
on  her  head. 

She  opened  her  eyes,  closing  them  with  an  involun- 
tary frown  as  they  met  his  own. 

"  I  hope  you  are  better,  my  dear." 

"Better,"  was  all  she  said. 

He  fidgeted  uneasily  about,  stepping  on  that  unfor- 
tunate bonnet,  not  at  all  to  the  improvement  of  its  al- 
ready dilapidated  condition.  A  brilliant  idea  occurred 
to  him. 

"  Let  me  give  you  a  glass  of  wine,  Lucy,  it  will  re- 
vive you." 

"  Not  an,y  ;  a  physician  prescribed  it  for  me  when  I 
was  ill  at  Paris  and  it  has  ever  since  been  unpalatable 
to  me  from  unpalatable  associations." 

She  sighed  heavily ;  his  kindly  intended  proffer  had 
awakened  a  train  of  thought  full  of  pain  and  humilia- 
tion. 

He  pressed  a  glass  of  water  upon  her  acceptance,  and 
the  draught  revived  her. 

'•  Don't  mind  what  I  said,  Lucy  ;  if  I  took  your  words 
in  a  vrrong  sense,  it  was  nothing  worse  than  a  mistake, 
and  a  very  natural  one,  all  things  considered.  I  have 
not  yet  heard  your  story,  recollect ;  tell  it  me  now ;  it 
shall  have  my  undivided  attention,  and  every  circum- 
Btance  shall  be  most  carefully  weighed  and  sifted." 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  251 

"  A  sifting  aud  weighing  of  mj  very  life  !  It  is  more 
than  I  could  bear.  How  can  you  ask  it  of  me  ? — to  sub- 
mit a  second  time  to  the  dagger  thrust  that  has  struck 
me  to  the  earth  ?  Isn't  one  blow  enough  ?  Aren't  you 
satisfied  ?     Do  you  want  to  kill  me  ?" 

'•  You  are  very  unreasonable ;  I  do  not  wish  even  to 
grieve  you.  If  I  misinterpreted  your  admission,  say 
that  it  was  owing  to  my  own  obtuseness,  and  let  it  pass. 
We  will  talk  the  matter  over  together,  kindly  and  can- 
didly, as  soon  as  you  are  a  little  more  composed." 

"  I  shall  leave,  then ;  this  air  stifles  me.  There  is  but 
one  subject  I  wish  to  speak  of  before  I  go ;  that  is  your 
house,  which  is  in  a  sad  condition,  owing  to  the  alDuse 
and  neglect  it  has  received  at  the  hands  of  its  present 
tenant." 

"Your  house,  you  mean." 

'^  Mine  no  longer.  I  never  could  consent  to  be  heavily 
indebted  to  one  who  holds  me  in  such  light  esteem  as 
your  words  imply." 

"  Will  you  never  forget  that  ?" 

"Is  your  own  memory  so  little  retentive,  that  you 
think  mine  like  a  sieve  that  holds  no  water?  I  do  not 
say  that  I  shall  never  forget;  I  shall  try  to  put  this 
msierable  meeting  out  of  my  thoughts,  but  the  time  for 
forgetfulness  has  not  come  yet.  I  shall  consult  Lawyer 
Auverne,  as  soon  as  possible,  as  to  the  proper  steps  to 
be  taken  for  restoring  to  you  the  property  that  is  yours." 

"  But  what  will  you  do  ?     Where  will  you  go  ?" 

"  It  matters  little  what  or  where,  so  I  do  but  get  far 
enough  away  from — from — my  friends.  Speaking  of 
Mr.  Auverne  reminds  me  that  he  gave  me  a  paper,  just 
before  I  started,  which  he  said  would  explain  to  you 
much  better  than  I  could — the  law  phrases  he  used  were 
so  hard  for  me  to  remember — all  tlie  causes  that  had 
operated  to  set  me  free  from  any  future  control  on  the 
part  of  Monsieur  Maurice." 


252  THE    EITAL   YOLUXTEERS  ;    OR, 

0 

"Bj  all  means  let  me  have  the  paper,  which  should 
have  been  lianded  me  at  jonr  earliest  arrivaL  You  will 
at  least  do  me  the  favor  to  remain  while  I  examine  its 
contents." 

'^ I  will  stay  since  you  ask  it;  but  you  will  please 
make  my  detention  as  brief  as  may  be.*' 

Pie  bowed  acquiescence. 

Not  yet  wholly  relieved  from  the  giddiness  that  op- 
pressed her,  she  leaned  her  head  upon  a  small  inlaid 
table,  which  she  drew  beside  the  lounge. 

Mr.  Caruthers  had  not  finished  reading  the  first  page 
of  the  paper  she  had  presented  him,  when  a  thin,  stu- 
dious-looking man  entered  the  room  without  even  the 
formality  of  a  rap  at  the  door.  The  former  received 
the  new-comer  with  easy  courtesy. 

"  I  need  nothing  more  to-day  in  the  way  of  ])rofes- 
sional  aid,  my  dear  doctor;  but  I  should  be  greatly 
obliged  to  you  if  you  would  receive  this  young  lady,  a 
ward  of  mine — Miss  Sears,  Dr.  Cairnes — as  your  guest 
for  the  night.  Tiiinking  me  much  more  seriously 
wounded  than  I  am,  she  has  made  great  efi:brts  to  reach 
me,  is  sadly  fatigued,  and  beneath  your  hospitable  roof 
will  find  the  rest  she  needs,  that  is  if  you  accede  to  my 
request." 

''  I  would  accede  to  one  far  more  serious  for  the  sake 
of  obliging  you,  sir.  Your  vrard  does,  indeed,  look  as 
though  she  needed  rest ;  and  Mrs.  Cairnes  and  my 
daughters  will  be  happy  to  sbow  her  every  attention  in 
their  power." 

Both  speakers  turned  toward  Lucy  for  some  expres- 
sion of  assent  or  acknowledgnient,  but  she  neithei-  no- 
ticed nor  replied  to  their  questioning  looks.  Her  eyes 
were  fixed  on  the  fioor,  her  brow  contracted,  and  iier 
lips  firmly  compressed.  Across  her  forehead  was  a  deep 
purple  indentation,  caused  by  the  sharp  edge  of  the 
table  against  which  it  had  rested. 


THE   BLACK   PLOlfi   RIFLE3.  253 

For  the  second  time  since  her  arrival,  ISlr.  Carutbers 
-^ent  to  lier  side,  bending  on  her  a  glance  of  compassion 
wholly  thrown  away  on  its  object,  as  she  had  not  even 
observed  his  approach. 

'•  Lncy,"  he  gently  inanired,  '*have  you  heard  what  we 
have  been  saying  ?" " 

She  started,  colored,  and  impulsively  withdrew  tlie 
hand  he  had  taken. 

"  What  is  it  you  are  asking  of  me,  sir  ?" 

'•  Only  that  you  will  go  home  with  my  good  friend, 
Dr.  Cairnes,  and  find  the  rest  you  need  after  the  fatigue 
of  your  hurried  journey." 

"  Gail  I  have  a  room  quite  to  myself  where  you  pro- 
pose sending  me  ?" 

''  That,  or  anything  else  you  may  require  to  make 
yon  comfortable,"  the  doctor  hastened  to  assure  her. 

''  How  soon  can  we  start  ?" 

"  Directly,  if  3^ou  wish  it." 

The  alacrity  with  which  she  rose,  bent  her  bonnet  into 
presentable  shape,  tied  it  on,  and  announced  her  readi- 
ness for  immediate  departure,  sufficiently  attested  the 
sincerity  of  her  desire  to  be  gone. 

A  shade  of  mortification  crept  to  Mr.  Caruthers'  face. 

"  I  shall  see  you  again,  before  you  leave  town, 
Lucy?" 

Her  eyes  flashed  forth  a  prompt  and  indignant  de- 
nial. 

'•  I  insist  on  seeing  you,"  he  peremptorily  subjoined, 
*•  to  return  to  you  papers  I  hold  in  my  possession,  if  for 
no  other  reason.     You  will  come  to  me  to-morrow  ?" 

"  1  will  come  since  you  exact  it,"  she  coldly  responded, 
avoiding  his  glance,  and  not  even  taking  the  hand  he 
held  out  to  her  at  parting. 

"  When  your  son  goes  to  school  in  the  morning,  doc- 
tor, will  you  let  him  walk  round  this  way  with  Miss 
Sears?" 


254  THE  RIVAL   VOLUIS^TEERS;    OE, 

"  I  will  do  better  than  that,  by  leaving  her  here  on 
my  earliest  round  of  calls." 

'^  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  you ;  command  me,  if 
there  is  any  favor  I  can  bestow  in  return." 


CHAPTEE    XYI. 

THE   FwEBOUND. 

Dr.  Catkxes,  knowing  his  companion  to  be  a  stranger 
to  the  locality,  pointed  out  to  her  such  objects  of  note 
as  would  be  likely  to  reward  the  attention  of  an  unac- 
customed observer ;  but  she  paid  so  little  heed  to  his 
remarks  that  he  soon  desisted  therefrom. 

Declining  to  join  the  cheerful  home  circle  in  the 
physician's  parlor,  she  was  shown  directly  to  her  own 
Bleephig-room,  where,  unrestrained  b}^  curious  eyes,  she 
could  indulge  in  wretchedness  to  the  top  of  her  bent. 
Ignoring  the  summons  to  the  tea-table,  she  paced  her 
room  with  rapid,  restless  step  until  she  was  completely 
exhausted,  when,  retiring  for  the  night,  she  cried  her- 
self asleep,  and  slept  soundly  until  morning.  When 
she  awoke,  clouds  and  mist  had  disappeared,  and  the 
cheery  sunshine  flooded  her  room  with  its  bright  and 
gladsome  presence.  Her  spirits  rebounded  from  their 
deep  depression  at  sight  of  the  genial  sunny  aspect  na- 
ture had  once  more  assumed. 

A  bell  rang  below  stairs.  Some  one  rapped  at  her 
door,  and  a  silvery  girlish  voice  called  out : 

'*  The  dressing-bell ;  breakfast  will  be  served  in  half 
an  hour." 

She  joined  the  family  at  their  morning  meal,  and 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  ^55 

scarcely  a  trace  of  gloom  marked  lier  demeanor  as  she 
listened  to  the  lively,  playful  chat  of  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  domestic  group.  Far  more  light  and  elastic 
the  step  with  which  she  returned  to  her  room  than  the 
one  by  which  she  had  entered  it  on  the  previous  after- 
noon. 

Seating  herself  on  a  cushioned  stool,  and  burying  her 
face  in  her  hands,  she  pondered  long  on  the  ever  accu- 
mulating difficulties  of  her  position  ;  and  strove,  to  the 
best  of  her  ability,  to  ascertain  the  method  most  avail- 
able for  extricating  herself  from  her  embarrassments. 

"  I  told  him  he  had  struck  me  to  the  earth,"  she  said 
to  herself,  with  a  gleam  almost  vindictive  in  her  eye ; 
''  let  him  make  the  most  of  the  triumph  in  his  power  to 
strike  so  heavily  which  that  admission  gave  him  ;  he 
will  never  wring  such  another  weak  cry  from  my  lips. 
Am  I  so  abject  and  spiritless  a  creature  as  to  allow  my- 
self to  be  crushed  by  the  weight  of  a  mere  opinion — and 
a  false  one  at  that!  It  was  because  the  blow  came  so 
imexpectedly  that  it  stunned  me  for  a  time.  Kow  that 
I  am  on  my  guard,  I  cannot  be  stricken  down  unawares 
in  that  way  again. 

'•  I  humbled  myself  to  entreat  his  forgiveness,  and  in 
return  he  humbled  me  to  the  very  dust  •  I  will  never  again 
abase  myself  thus,  only  to  gain  additional  abasement. 

"  I  sued  for  pardon,  he  denied  it ;  and  the  hour  for 
such  suit  is  past.  Oh,  Monsieur  Meurice  !  see  to  what 
a  pass  your  arts  and  wiles  and  guile  have  brought  their 
victim.  Would  to  Heaven  I  had  never  seen  your  fair 
face  or  listened  to  your  false  vows.  But  for  you,  I 
should  never  have  gained  the  hatred  which  hm  replaced 
the  love  that  once  was  mine.  Hatred  !  Mr.  Caruthers 
does  not  think  me  worth  it ;  he  despises  me,  and  cuts 
me  to  the  soul  with  taunts  the  most  unbearable  that 
could  be  levelled  at  a  woman.  Well,  that  is  all  over 
now  ;  for  the  short  time  that  I  must  be  with  him,  once 


256  THE   niTAL  TOLU^•TEERS  ;    OR, 

more,  I  will  steel  myself  against  any  thrust  he  may 
attem])t  to  aim  at  me. 

''  Why  did  he  so  strongly  insist  on  seeing  me  again 
before  I  left  town  ?  Perliaps  to  make  arrangements  for 
my  restoring  the  house  he  gave  me;  but  "svliy  should  I 
restore  it?  He  will  think  no  worse  of  me  if  I  keep  it 
than  he  thinks  of  me  now.  I  have  already  forfeited  his 
good  opinion,  and  cannot  lose  it  over  again.  To  be 
sure,  I  promised  to  return  his  gift ;  but  tlien  I  was  so 
beside  myself  with  rage  and  resentment  when  the  pro- 
mise was  given  that  it  could  scarcely  be  considered  as 
binding.  Xow  I  think  of  it,  it  was  no  promise,  but  sim- 
ply an  offer,  on  my  part,  which  he  failed  to  accept  when 
it  was  made.  I  have  a  right  to  change  my  mind,  and 
change  it  I  will.  What  could  I  do  by  way  of  earning 
my  own  support?  Make  soldiers'  shirts  at  ninepence  a 
day?  I  never  could  endure  the  confinement  and  pri- 
vation incident  to  such  a  life;  and  I  am  not  going  to 
endure  it.  A  poor  needlewoman  I  need  not  and  I  will 
not  become. 

"  Cn  the  whole,  I  mio'ht  be  a  o:reat  deal  worse  off 
than  I  am.  An  heiress  in  my  own  right,  with  full  lib- 
erty to  come  and  go  as  I  choose,  many  might  deem  mine 
a  most  enviable  lot.  I  may  think  so  myself  in  time,  if 
I  can  only  sunder  all  associations  with  the  past,  and 
move  to  some  place  where  there  will  be  nothing  to  re- 
mind me  of  these  last  few  wretched  months.  Mr.  Au- 
verne  is  right ;  it  is  better,  far  better,  for  me  to  retain 
my  property  in  my  own  keeping  than  to  resign  it  to 
that  of  any  living  person.  The  lawyer  is  the  safest 
counsellor,  and  the  best  friend  I  have — so  long  as  he  is 
sure  of  his  fees. 

"If  Mr.  Caruthers  had  been  inconsolable  at  my  de- 
sertion of  him,  he  would  be  less  taken  up  than  he  is 
with  all  those  little  luxuries  he  has  gathered  about  him. 
Men  don't  die  of  broken  hearts,  nor  vromen  neither ;  and 


THE    BLACK   PLUME    EIFLES.  25T 

I'm  the  last  person  to  be  gnilty  of  siicli  a  follj.  I  have 
not  hurt  him,  did  he  say  ?  jN'either  has  he  hurt  me.  Is 
he  fastidious  and  particidar  to  a  nicety  in  matters  of 
dress  ?  so  am  I.  Does  he  aifect  rich  silks,  lovely  colors, 
and  costly  embroideries  ?  so  do  I.  Is  his  mind  so 
much  at  ease  that  he  can  devote  his  attention  to  all  sorts 
of  elegant  apparelling  ?  so  is  mine.  I  will  not  go  to 
him  a  second  time  looking  like  the  forlorn,  forsaken 
outcast  I  did  yesterday  ;  he  shall  not  again  have  the 
advantage  over  me  in  that  respect.  1  never  can  satis- 
factorily acquit  mj^self  when  weighed  down  by  tlie  pain- 
ful consciousness  of  a  dowdy  bonnet  and  crumpled  face 
trimmings." 

She  started  up  with  an  alacrity  indicative  of  her  newly- 
formed  resolve.  Robing  herself  in  bonnet  and  cape, 
she  went  down  to  the  breakfast-room  in  search  of  Jenny 
Cairnes,  a  lively,  spirited  miss  of  sixteen. 

"I  wish  to  make  a  few  trifling  purchases,"  Lucy  con- 
fided to  Miss  Jenny  ;  "is  it  quite  safe  for  me  to  traverse 
your  streets  alone  ?" 

"Peifcctly  safe;  but  please'  take  me  with  you.  A 
shopping  expedition !  I  have  not  enjoyed  such  a  feli- 
city for  an  age.  Do  let  me  tell  mamma  you  require 
my  services  as  chaperone ;  I  should  fill  the  office  admi- 
rably, I  am  of  austerity  so  formidable,  and  of  dignity 
so  unapproachable." 

"Then  you  must  be  quickly  ready,  as  I  have  no 
time  to  lose." 

"  In  a  trice." 
■  They  were  soon  on  their  way.  Exhilarated  by  the 
clear,  bracing  air,  brisk  movement,  and  sight  of  the  stir 
and  bustle  in  the  thronged  streets,  Lucy  listened  to  the 
playful  rattle  of  her  companion  Avith  an  interest  she  had 
not  accorded  to  the  valuable  information  imparted  by 
the  doctor  on  the  previous  day. 

A  dapper  young  gentleman  from  an  opj)osite  side- 
walk dolled  his  beaver  to  Miss  Jenny. 


258  THE    RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

"Young  Lieutenant  Ganer,  at  lionie  on  furlough," 
she  cxchiiincd  ;  "very  agreeable;  did  yon  ever  know  a 
mnsic-niaster — he  was  mine  before  his  enlistment — who 
Tras  not  ?" 

Lucy's  gaiety  fled  on  the  instant ;  she  turned  pale, 
and  gave  her  companion  a  searching  look,  vaguely  sus- 
picious that  she  might  in  some  way  have  gained  an  ink- 
ling of  her  own  private  personal  history. 

The  young  girl  met  her  look  with  one  of  perfect  open- 
ness and  cordiality  ;  and,  ashamed  of  her  suspicion,  Lucy 
strove  to  atone  for  it  by  resuming  her  former  demeanor ; 
in  this  she  succeeded,  but  the  dull  aciiing  sense  of  mis- 
ery so  imintentionally  aroused  was  not  easily  subdued. 

''  One  of  the  most  delightful  of  mimics,  was  Franz 
Gauer,"  Jenny  rattled  on  ;  "  the  way  in  which  he  imi- 
tated the  leading  stars  at  the  opera,  tenor  and  baritone, 
hitting  off  the  peculiarities  of  each,  was  irresistibly 
couiic.  He  would  go  down  into  the  thorough-bass  till 
his  voice  was  lost  in  a  hoarse  growl,  and  then  he  would 
soar  up  a  couple  of  octaves,  note  by  note,  until  he 
wound  up  vrith  a  diminuendo  of  excruciating  wire- 
drawn squeak.  What  could  I  do  but  laugh?  Papa 
heard  me,  one  day,  and  sent  for  raeto  come  to  his  study 
when  my  lesson  was  over.  If  there  is  anything  I  do 
dread,  it  is  to  be  summoned  to  that  study  ;  for,  though 
he  doesn't  scold,  like  mamma,  he  isn't  to  be  coaxed 
like  her,  either ;  and  his  word,  once  given,  is  never  re- 
tracted. He  only  said  to  me,  that  I  might  practice  my 
old  pieces,  for  the  present,  and  consider  my  lessons  sus- 
pended. I  understood  the  reproof  as  well  as  though  it 
had  been  set  forth  in  plainer  terms.  I  wonder  if  most 
girls  find  it  easy  to  put  on  dignity  with  their  first  long 
dresses ;  it  did  not  come  easy  to  me.  Before  that  dread- 
ful assumption  of  womanly  paraphernalia,  I  could  be  as 
jolly  as  1  liked,  without  check  or  hindrance;  but  since 
then,  I  can't  bound  a  ball,  or  climb  a  tree  by  way  of 
calisthenics,  or  drive  a  donkey  cart,  or  get  up  a  bit  of 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  269 

masqiiei-cade  in  burglar  costume  to  frighten  the  maids, 
and  so  squeeze  a  little  fun  out  of  tin's  drj  rind  of  life, 
than  straight  comes  the  reproof:  '  You  had  much  better 
be  storing  your  mind  with  useful  knowledge  than  play- 
ing this  sort  of  childish  prank.'  Thej  are  talking,  now, 
of  sending  me  to  a  boarding-school;  I  wish  1  knew 
what  it  was  like.  Were  you  ever  at  such  an  institu- 
tion ?" 

"  I  was  a  pupil  in  one  for  several  years." 

"  How  nice  ;  you  can  tell  me  so  much  I  wish  to  know. 
"Was  the  discipline  very  stringent  ?" 

"  The  rules  seemed  strict  to  me  ;  but  I  presume  they 
were  not  more  so  than  they  ought  to  have  been  to  secure 
the  confidence  of  the  seminary's  patrons." 

"  But  what  if  the  rules  were  transgressed  ?  was  there 
a  penalty  in  such  a  case  ?" 

"  Of  course  there  was,  or  where  would  have  been  the 
use  of  the  regulations  ?" 

"How  barbarous!  "What!  actual  punishment  in  an 
establishment  fitted  up  solely  for  young  ladies  ?" 

"  Certainly ;  actual  enough  of  its  kind." 

"  What  kind  was  it  ?" 

"  O  !  there  were  various  modes  of  correction,  accord- 
ing to  the  circumstances  of  the  offence." 

"  Don't  put  me  off  so,  please  ;  if  you  would  not  think 
me  impertinently  curious,  I  would  like  to  ask  you  a 
plain  question — may  I  ?" 

"  As  many  as  you  like." 

"  Did  you  ever  break  a  boarding-school  rule  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  a  number  6f  them." 

"  Do  tell  me  what  they  Avere,  and  all  about  it." 

"  I  will,  as  clearly  as  1  can.  In  the  large  dining -hall 
a  number  of  tables  were  laid,  and,  at  a  side  one,  the 
teachers  of  foreign  languages  always  took  their  meals  ; 
and  their  pupils,  sometimes  one  class  and  sometimes 
another,  breakfasted  and  dined  with  them.    Xow,  it  was 


260  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

a  rule  at  tliis  table  that  not  a  word  slioiild  be  spoken 
exceptinp^  in  French,  that  the  speakei'S  might  learn  to 
converse  in  that  lanL::iiage  with  facility. 

"  One  day  we  had  lor  dinner  mock  turtle  soup  ;  and, 
as  I  couldn't  for  the  life  of  me  remember  the  French 
name  for  it,  I  awkwardly  enoHgh  had  to  go  without. 
Then  a  clam-cliowder  was  brought  on,  and  there  was  no 
sucli  dish  set  down  in  Chouquet,  or  any  of  the  printed 
lists  of  viands  I  had  in  my  pocket.  Monsieur  Lancens, 
a  brother  of  Mademoiselle,  who  presided  that  day, 
understood  my  dilemma,  but  would  not  help  me  to  the 
chowder  unless  I  sent  a  special  request  for  it  through 
Fifitte,  who  couldn't  speak  a  word  of  English.  I  whis- 
pered Mademoiselle,  who  sat  next  me,  merely  asking  her 
to  pronounce  the  term  I  wanted,  in  her  own  language. 

''  All  she  said  was  '  You  have  been  guilty  of  breaking 
a  rule,  Miss  Sears,  if  the  offence  is  repeated  I  shall  deem 
it  my  duty  to  report  you.' " 

"  AVhy  did  you  not  catch  the  word  from  some  of  the 
other  pupils  ?" 

"Tiieir  orders  were  given  to  the  table-maid  in  so  low 
a  tone  that  it  escaped  me.  Tired  of  the  quizzical  looks 
meeting  me  on  all  sides,  I  asked  to  be  excused,  and  left 
the  hall.  Instead  of  2:oino;  to  my  chamber,  I  tliono^ht  I 
would  go  out  to  one  of  the  music-rooms  in  a  building 
detached  from  the  main  body  of  the  seminary.  In 
crossing  a  passage,  I  saw  the  cook  with  a  large  tray  full 
of  pies  going  into  the  pantry.  On  coming  out,  siie  left 
the  door  open  behind  her,  while  she  went  to  refill  her 
tray.  I  had  lost  my  dinner  sorely  against  my  will ;  and 
without  stopping  to  think  of  consequences,  I  darted  into 
the  pantry,  seized  a  ])ie,  and,  prize  in  hand,  ran  up  to 
my  room.  I  lost  some  time  in  looking  for  my  fruit- 
knife  that  had  been  mislaid,  and  by  the  time  I  found  it 
dinner  was  over  and  the  girls  trooping  up-stairs.  That 
Bound  did  not  disturb  me,  bat  another  one  did.     This  is 


THE   black:    TLUIIE   ETFLES.  261 

what  a  person  was  saying  in  the  hall  below :  *  This  is 
not  the  first  time  pilferers  have  foniid  their  way  to  the 
pantry.  The  real  culprit  shall  be  exposed.  Let  every 
pupil's  room  be  thoroughly  searched.  Close  yonr  doors, 
young  ladies,  and  remain  where  you  are.'  I  learned 
from  my  room-mate  that  not  one  of  the  teachers  had 
come  up-stairs,  and  tucking  my  pilfered  tropliy  nnder 
my  cape,  I  darted  down  the  first  flight  and  safely  de- 
posited my  unfortunate  prize  in  Mademoiselle's  band- 
box, under  her  Sunday  bonnet." 

"  So  you  turned  the  laugh  on  her  ;  good." 
''  i^ot  so  good  as  one  would  think ;  for  Mademoiselle 
Lancens  owed,  me  a  grudge,  and  she  was  not  the  woman 
to  forget  that  sort  of  debt.     She  only  waited  her  oppor- 
tunity to  pay  me  with  interest." 

"  And  did  she  get  what  she  waited  for  ?" 
"  You  shall  hear.  Emma  Ford,  my  room-mate,  and 
I  always  went  to  chnrch  with  Mademoiselle.  In  the 
same  pevv'  with  ns  sat  a  tolerably  prepossessing  stranger, 
whom  we  called  Master  Slender,  he  was  so  slight  of  fig- 
ure. I  noticed  that  Emma  always  contrived  to  occupy  the 
seat  next  to  him,  and  I  strongly  suspected  that  the  notes 
they  took  of  the  sermons  would  scarcely  have  tallied 
Yv-ith  the  heads  of  the  discourses  preached  by  the  clergy- 
man. 'Mademoiselle  seemed  to  see  nothing  amiss,  in- 
deed was  wonderfully  unobservant  for  one  usually  so 
sharp-sighted. 

"  One'  day  when  we  were  out,  under  charge  of  a 
teacher,  buying  a  few  articles  we  needed,  I  noticed 
Emma  sliding  a  tiny  fish-hook  into  a  clasped  division 
of  her  porte-monnaie.  I  was  curious  to  know  the-  pur- 
pose to  which  this  odd  purchase  vv^as  to  be  applied;  but 
as  she  did  not  seem  disposed  to  be  communicative,  my 
curiosity  remained  uugraiified  for  the  time.  Somehow 
Emma  lost  all  rehsh  lor  her  studies,  and  was  more  than 
once  repremanded  for  ill-prepared  lessons.     As  a  gene- 


262  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

ral  rule,  I  was  an  excellent  sleeper,  never  once  waking 
throii2:li  the  nifi^ht :  bnt  I  was  foolish  enou^rh  to  huv  a 
cosmetic  of  a  street  vender,  who  assured  me  that  it 
would  not  only  remove  all  tan  and  freckles,  but  would 
also  marvellously  heighten  and  beautify  the  complexion  ; 
it  heightened  mine  with  a  vengeance,  smarting  like  fire, 
and  eating  the  skin  half  off  my  face.  That  wns  why  I. 
couldn't  sleep,  and  that  was  how  I  happened  to  find  out 
the  mystery  of  the  fish-hook.  We  were  to  be  in  bed, 
with  lights  all  out,  at  ten ;  that  was  the  rule,  strictly  en- 
forced. My  face  pained  me  so  that  I  could  not  close  my 
eyes ;  but  as  I  had  nothing  but  my  own  credulous  folly 
to  blame  for  it,  I  held  my  peace  and  made  no  complaint. 
The  clock  was  striking  eleven  when  Emma  got  up,  put 
on  slippers  and  wrapper,  and  softly  raised  the  window. 
The  moon  was  at  the  full,  and  I  could  see  distinctly 
every  movement  she  made.  Taking  the  hook,  to  which 
a  folded  paper  was  attached,  she  let  it  down  from  the 
casement  by  means  of  a  cord,  and  then  hauled  in  her 
line,  having  hooked  a  missive  superior  in  size  as  in 
quality,  I  presume,  from  the  look  of  edification  with' 
which  she  read  it,  to  the  one  she  had  thrown  out. 

"  Her  next  venture  in  this  novel  species  of  angling 
was  less  successful.  She  had  thrown  out  her  line^  baited 
as  before ;  but  suddenly  lost  hold  of  it  with  a  stifled  cry 
of  afiright.  Forgetting  that  she  was  unaware  of  my 
knowledge  of  her  indiscretion,  I  was  at  her  side  in  an 
instant,  looking  from  the  window  to  find  out  the  cause 
of  her  agitation  and  dismay.  It  was  easily  accounted  for. 
There  were  two  men,  the  husband  of  our  principal  and 
a  porter,  holding  Master  Slender  by  the  arms ;  and 
there,  at  tlie  casement  of  the  window  below  ours,  was 
Mademoiselle  Lancens,  drawing  in  the  cord,  with  its 
baited  hook.  JN'ext  morning  we  were  both  sent  for  to 
enter  the  presence  of  teachers  and  scholars  in  state  as- 
sembled.    I  thought  poor  Emma,  who  hadn't  slept  a 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  263 

Tvink  all  night,  and  who  was  natnrally  proud,  shy,  and 
keenly  sensitive  to  disgrace,  wonld  have  sunk  into  the 
ground  at  the  prospect  before  her.  I  got  off  with  only 
a  reprimand  for  my  complicity  in  the  affair ;  but  Emma's 
note — a  most  sweet  and  delectable  billet-doux,  they 
called  it — Avas  read  aloud,  as  a  wannng  to  all  the  pupils 
then  and  there  assembled.  She  half  cried  her  eyes  out 
with  regret  and  mortification,  and  scarcely  held  her 
head  up  for  a  week ;  but  she  learned  a  lesson  she  will 
never  forget,  and  one  learned  all  the  more  easily  for 
having  been  learned  while  she  was  young." 

*'  I  think  she  was  most  severely  punished  for  an  of- 
fence no  more  serious  than  a  mere  harmless  flirtation," 
decisively  affirmed  Miss  Jenny. 

"  Harmless  flirtation  !  there'^is  no  such  thing,"  asserted 
her  companion,  with  emphasis.  "  Where  one  person 
trifles  with  the  feelings  of  another,  it  may.  be  sport 
to  the  trifler,  but  to  the  one  trifled  with  it  is  almost 


She  paused  abruptly,  her  voice  unsteady  and  her  sight 
obscured  by  gathering  tears. 

An  arch  look  was  in  Jenny's  bright  eyes,  a  mirthful 
sally  just  ready  to  escape  her  lips;  but  something  in 
Lucy's  face  checked  her  purpose  of  playful  raillery,  and 
they  walked  on  in  silence  until  they  reached  a  milli- 
ner's shop,  which  they  entered  together. 

Xumerous  were  the  parcels  borne  by  the  shop-boy 
who  followed  them  on  their  return. 

The  doctor  sent  word  to  his  guest  that  in  half  an  horn- 
he  would  be  ready  to  start  on  his  first  round  of  profes- 
sional calls.  This  time  was  quite  short  enough  for  mak- 
ing a  toilette  she  had  determined  should  be  unexception- 
able as  to  style  and  material.  First  her  curled  tresses 
were  smoothly  brushed  and  looped  back  by  the  jewelled 
comb,  partially  restraining  their  luxuriance.  A  violet- 
colored  jacket,  of  Lyons  velvet,  was  worn  over  a  dress 


264  THE  Rrv'AL  volunteers;  or, 

of  plain  royal  purple  silk ;  both  bonnet  and  cape  being 
of  similar  material  in  shade  and  texture,  the  former  de- 
corated with  flowers  of  rose  sublime,  powdered  with 
pearl  dust,  and  falls  of  lace  Avorth  scores  of  times  its 
weight  in  gold  ;  Paris  boots,  of  irrcproacliable  form  and 
finish,  and  snowy  kids,  of  lii:  exact,  completed  her  cos- 
tume. 

"What  a  lovely  outfit!"  exclaimed  Miss  Jenny,  as 
Lucy  presented  herself  in  the  breakfast-room  to  take 
leave  of  her  kindly  entertainers ;  "  I  did  not  know  you 
were  so  bonny." 

The  young  girl's  compliment  was,  under  the  circum- 
stances calling  it  forth,  appreciated  at  more  than  its  full 
value.  Dr.  Cairncs  had  also  a  remark  to  oft'er  in 
regard  to  the  improved  a^^pearance  of  their  transient 
visitor. 

"  Nothing  like  a  brisk  shopping  expedition  for  femi- 
nine ailments,"  he  good-humoredly  asserted — '•  nothing 
in  the  whole  pharmacopoeia  to  rival  it  in  eliicacy." 


CHAPTER     XYII. 

CHARITY. 

Yery  different  the  calm,  self-possessed,  elegantly 
attired  woman  who  now  sought  Mr.  Caruthers'  pre- 
sence from  the  timid,  shrinking  penitent,  who,  in  travel- 
stained  garments,  and  with  hesitating,  reluctant  step 
came  to  him  on  the  previous  day.  Then  she  had  come 
to  confess  a  wrong ;  now  she  had  one  she  deemed  far 
deeper,  to  resent.  Then  it  was  as  a  humble  suppliant 
she  had  presented  herself;  now  it  was  as  one  determined 


THE   BLACK    PLUMS   PwIFLES.  .  265 

to  siiiTencler  no  riglit,  no  matter  what  the  inducement 
to  forego  pnch  determination.  Anticipating  an  inter- 
view ])ainful  as  well  as  profitless,  she  was  fully  resolved 
to  avail  herself  of  the  first  tolerable  excuse  that  might 
arise^.for  abridging  it. 

Mr.  Caruthers  rose  to  receive  her  ;  a  courtesv  he  had 
not  extended  on  the  occasion  of  her  previous  visit,  and 
drew  a  chair  for  her  near  his  own.  After  a  mutual  ex- 
change of  the  ordinary  forms  of  greeting,  a  silence 
ensued  which  seemed  to  embarrass  him ;  but  to  which 
die  submitted  with  immovable  composure,  furtively 
consultino^  her  watch,  as  thoui^h  calculatino-  the  time  of 
her  departure. 

"  You  are  looking  much  refreshed  by  your  night's 
rest,"  he  ventured  at  random. 

Vigilant,  alert,  watchfully  on  guard  against  any  man- 
oeuvres threatening  the  outposts  of  firm  resolve  defend- 
ing the  stronghold  of  dignified  reserve  she  deemed  im- 
pregnable, her  reply  was  warily  and  cautiously  worded. 

"  Quite  recovered,  I  thank  you,  from  the  fatigue  of 
having  travelled  forty-eight  hours  without  sleep.  "To  be 
broken  of  my  rest,  even  for  one  night,  always  makes  me 
stupid  next  day ;  but  doubling  the  infliction  really 
gives  me  the  appearance  of  having  been  through  a 
severe  fit  of  illness.  I  dread  my  return  unspeakably, 
and  shall  be  too  happy  when  it  is  over  with.  How 
soon  does  the  next  up-train  start,  and  how  shall  I  man- 
age to  procure  a  hack  to  take  me  to  the  depot  ?" 

''  The  next  train  starts  in  an  hour  ;  but  you  surely  do 
not  think  of  leaving  so  soon  as  that." 

^'  1  must,  positively  mttst^  I  have  decided  to  make  my 
permanent  home  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States ;  the  ex- 
act locality  I  can  more  readily  select  after  the  tour  of 
inspection  I  am  eagerly  desirous  to  undertake,  as  soon 
as  I  can  arrange  jvith  Mr.  Auverne  for  ejecting  the  pre- 
sent tenant  and  obtaining  a  new  one  for  my  house." 


266  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  oe, 

Mr.  Canithers  was  so  far  discomposed  by  this  assump- 
tion of  cool  eelf-relianco  on  the  part  of  one  wlio  had 
long  yielded  to  his  most  L'ghtlv-expressed  opinion  with 
boundless  deference,  that  he  betrayed  his  uneasiness, 
both  by  his  perturbed  look  and  by  the  restless  way  in 
which  he  trifled  with  the  tasselled  cord  of  his  dressing- 
gown. 

''  I  wish  to  have  a  candid  talk  with  you^  I^^icy ;  and 
you  really  put  me  out  of  all  patience  by  falling  back 
upon  your  dignity  in  this  way,  and  being  so  frigidly 
unapproachable." 

"  Better,  a  thousand  times  better,  reproaches  for  fri- 
gidity and  reserve,  than  scoffs  and  sneers  for  incon- 
siderate levity  or  imprudent  concessions." 

"  Why  will  you  so  disagreeably  harp  npon  that  un- 
fortunate expression  of  mine?  If  I  could  unsay  the 
words  J  would  ;  but  as  that  is  impossible,  I  can  do  no 
more  than  to  wish  them  unsaid,  vrhich  I  do  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart.  If  this  is  not  a  full  and  ample 
apology  for  a  hasty,  ill-considered  remark,  I  do  not 
know  how  to  make  one.     Is  it  accepted  ?" 

"  Certainly ;  after  humbling  myself  to  sue  for  your 
forgiveness,  and  receiving  from  you  contemptuous  scorn 
in  return,  I  could  not  have  dreamed  of  being  be- 
holden to  you  for  a  condescension  like  this  ;  accept  my 
warmest  thanks  for  the  same.  Kow  that  this  little 
difficulty  is  happily  adjusted,  will  you  allow  me  to  wish 
you  a  very  good  morning,  and  to  seek  a  conveyance 
for  " ^ 

"  Adjusted  !  nothing  of  the  sort.  The  legal  bearings 
of  the  case  I  have  from  Mr.  Auverne,  but  your  own 
version  of  the  affair  is  what  I  now  want,  to  make  the 
chain  of  evidence  complete  in  my  own  mind.  I  agree 
with  him  that,  Monsieur  Meurice  is  an  accomplished 
chevalier,  with  principles  conveniently  elastic;  and 
that  in  the  eye  of  the  law  you  are  blameless  in  act  and 


THE    ELACK    PLUME    EIFLES.  267 

intent;  but  admitting  all  tliis,  I  am  still  strongly  desir- 
ous of  hearing  from  yourself  the  many  particulars  you 
alone  can  give,  and  to  which  I  am  prepared  to  listen 
with  the  lenient  indulgence  of  a  long-tried  friend."    '* 

Lucy's  look  evinced  a  decided  dTsinclination  for  the 
fulfillment  of  this  intimation. 

"  That  is  the  way  in  which  I  thought  you  would 
listen  w^hen  I  came  to  you  yesterday  ;  but  I  soon  found 
out  my  mistake.  Since  I  am  free  from  blame,  why 
should  you  wish  to  know  more  ?  If  you  really  have 
such  a  wish,  I  will  make  full  confession  to  Lawyer 
Auverne,  and  he  can  Avrite  it  down  for  you,  or  repeat 
it  to  you  if  you  prefer  communicating  with  him 
directly." 

"But,  incomprehensible  creature  that  you  are,  would 
you  rather  confide  in  Mr.  Auyerne,  a  comparative 
stranger,  than  in  me,  whom  you  have  known  since  you 
was  a  child  ?" 

''  Strangers  haven't  it  in  their  power  to  strike  as 
friends  can.  Yes ;  I  would  rather  tell  all  to  Mr.  Au- 
yerne, and  haye  you  learn  it  through  him.  Let  us  con- 
sider that  as  agreed  upon.  How"  long  will  it  take  to 
driye  from  here  to  the  station-house  ?" 

"  Confound  the  station-house  !  you'ye  nothing  what- 
eyer  to  do  with  it  at  present.  (Jnderstand  that  I  do 
not  consider  it  agreed  upon  that  I  am  to  learn  from  any 
superfluous  go-betvreen  what  it  is  my  fixed  purpose  to 
learn  from  yourself,  if  at  all." 

Lucy  sighed  drearily. 

"  Why  should  you  be  so  exacting  ?  I  am  not  so 
strong  as  you  think  me.  I  am  not  accustomed  to  hard 
words  ;  they  hurt  me  ;  why  should  you  compel  me  to 
submit  to  them?" 

"  Will  you  neyer  comprehend  that  you  haye  nothing 
of  the  sort  to  dread  from  me?  Are  you  so  used  to 
being  imposed  upon  that  you  can't  take  an  honest  man 


268  THE    RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

at  Lis  ^vord  ?  Didn't  I  tell  you  that  I  would  listen  as  a 
friend,  to  what  you  have  to  tell  me?" 

"  But  I  would  a  thousand  times  rather  you  listened  as 
^l^ranger." 

"  As'^a  stranger  let  it  he,  then,  if  that  will  suit  you 
better." 

"'  You  cannot  mahe  yourself  a  stranger ;  I  cannot 
think  of  you  as  such." 

"  Perhaps  not ;  I  think  I  have  some  trifling  claim  on 
your  acquaintance,  if  not  your  regard,  owing  to  some 
slight  favors  I  was  able  to  render  your  mother ;  and 
which,  I  presume,  have  not  entirely  escaped  your  me- 
mory." 

Yigilant  as  was  her  guard,  here  was  a  movement 
so  unexpected,  that,  taken  by  surprise,  she  was  forced 
from  her  position,  abandoning  her  outer  line  of  de- 
fence. 

''  I  have  not  forgotten  what  my  mother  owed  to  your 
generosity ;  she  must  have  sadly  tried  your  patience 
at  times,  as  I  have  tried  it  since.  You  have  a  claim  on 
my  gratitude,  and  on  my  confidence,  too  ;  you  shall 
have  it,  however  reluctantly  it  maybe  given.  Where 
shall  I  begin  ?  at  the  very  outset  of  my  acquaintance 
with  Monsieur  Meurice  ?" 

''  At  the  very  outset,  if  you  please." 

^'  It  was  you  who  first  introduced  me  to  him,  when  I 
was  little  more  than  a  child,  as  my  music  master ;  and 
I  always  liked  to  laugh  and  chat  with  him  because  he 
was  lively  and  agreeable  ;  natural  enough,  wasn't  it  ?" 

^'  Perfectly  so  ;  what  next  ?" 

"  The  first  time  liis  attentions  became  so  marked  as  to 
be  seriously  annoying,  was  a  couple  of  days  before  you 
went  off  with  your  company.  Tiie  circumstances  were 
so  trivial,  and  his  words  so  lose  their  meaning  on  repe- 
tition, that  I  am  not  siu'e  of  being  able  to  explain  to 
your  comprehension.     He  went  to  St.  Marc's  Hospital 


THE    BLACK    PLUME    EIFLES,  269 

with  Miss  Barton  and  myself,  she  wishing  to  present  a 
biiDcli  of  flowers  to  a  pa'^tient.  Amongst  tliem  was  one 
lie  called  iove-in-disguise ;  it  came  from  your  own  con- 
servatory."' 

"  I  never  had  such  a  plant  in  my  collection.  Whal: 
was  the  blossom  like  ?'' 

^'  The  petals  were  something  like  those  of  a  pansy, 


on 


ly  all  of  one  color,  a  rich  deep  pnrple." 


'^With  a  row  of  barbed  thorns  so  fine  yon  wonld 
nevei'  see  them" 

''That  is  it;  I  thought  them  stinging  nettles,  and 
when  I  got  one  in  my  linger,  through  incautious  hand- 
ling of  the  flower,  I  "said  thoughtlessly  that^  the  very 
name  of  the  plant  was  enough  to  condemn  it,  as  true 
love  had  no  need  of  a  disguise,  and  might  openly  ex- 
press itself  like  any  other  lionest  emotion.  Tliis  he  took 
as  a  sort  of  challenge  to  make  me  a  declaration,  at  least 
so  he  said,  when  he  called  on  me  the  day  you  left.  I 
can't  tell  you  how  it  all  came  about;  he  was  so  much 
deeper  than  I,  that  I  often  found  it  difticnlt  to  make  out 
his  precise  meaning ;  and  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  de- 
scribe what  I  never  clearly  comprehended.  He  seemed, 
before  I  was  aware  of  any  such  intention  on  his  part,  to 
take  it  for  granted  that  there  was  a  tacit  agreement  or 
understanding  between  us,  and  all  I  could  do  or  say 
wouldn't  shake  him  out  of  this  conviction." 

'•Bnt  if  you  knew  the  assumption  to  be  unfounded, 
why  didn't  you  contradict  it  outright,  and  let  him  know, 
once  for  all,  that  he  was  laboring  under  a  total  misap- 
prehension regarding  the  facts  of  the  case?" 

"That  is  what  I  tried  to  do;  but  he  only  shrugged 
his  shoulders  and  said,  '  Mademoiselle  does  but  aliect ; 
Mademoiselle  is  not  so  obtuse  ;'  and,  as  I  didn't  want  him 
to  think  me  a  downright  simpleton,  I  did  aii'ect  to  com- 
prehend matters  about  which  I  was  really  quite  in  the 
dark." 


270  THE   EIVAL   TOLU^■TEEKS  ;    OR, 

"  But  why  should  you  be  so  anxious  to  stand  well  in 
tliis  man's  good  opinion,  that  you  were  willing  to  make 
any  SHcriiicc  to  eliect  sncli  a  purpose  f ' 

•'All  owing  to  a  foolish  habit  I  have  of  striving  to 
please  my  friends.  I  have  learned  a  lesson,  I  think, 
that  will  cure  me  of  such  folly  for  the  future." 

'^  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  speak  in  that  way ;  and 
should  regret  still  more  to  see  3'ou  exchange  the  open, 
winning,  unsuspecting  manner  that  has  always  seemed 
one  of  your  best  charms  to  me,  for  a  cold,  repellant, 
suspicious  demeanor  entirely  foreign  to  your  real  char- 
acter. Choose  wisely  the  friends  on  whom  to  lavish 
your  regard  and  your  confidence,  and  then  you  cannot 
trust  too  unreservedly,  or  strive  too  earnestly  to  win  the 
approbation  you  crave." 

"But  there  is  the  difficulty,"  objected  Lucy.  ''Are 
mistakes  in  such  choice  always  to  be  avoided?  Did 
you  never  make  such  a  one  yourself?" 

Mr.  Caruthcrs  actually  blushed. 

''  I  will  not  drag  you  to  the  confessional  and  then  de- 
cline obeying  your  summons  tO;the  same,  Lucy.  AVhat 
will  you  say  when  I  tell  you  that  I  did  once  seriously 
intend  making  Miss  Brandon  my  wife  ?" 

*'  If  any  other  had  told  me  this  I  could  not  have  be- 
lieved it  ot*  you,  Mr.  Caruthers." 

"  Neither  would  I  have  believed,  save  through  your 
own  admission,  that  you  could  have  jilted  me  for  that 
glib-tongued  Frenchman." 

"  But  I  thought  you  a  very  paragon  of  excellence,  too 
noble  and  upright  to  stoop  to  any  species  of  deceit." 

"  Just  wiiat  1  thought  of  you,  Lucy  Sears.  Since  we 
live  in  glass  houses  let  us  not  throw  stones  at  each  other  ; 
it  is  worse  than  useless ;  it  is  unsafe  and  full  of  danger." 

'•You  really  did  care  for  this  Miss  Brandon,  then, 
after  all?" 

"  Not  a  straw.     I  was  proud  of  her  beauty,  grace  and 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  271 

intelligence,  and  tlioii,2jlit  they  would  do  great  credit  to 
my  handsome  establishment.  Yon  know  I  always  sought 
your  society  in  preference  to  hers,  or  that  of  any  other 
person.  Sbe  wearied  me  unspeakably  with  her  inter- 
minahie  raptures  about  the  sayings  and  doings  of  old 
poets  and  playwrights  that  were  dead  and  in  their  graves 
centuries  ago.  As  though  there  wasn't  enough  to  think 
about  in  these  stirring  times,  without  pottering  amongst 
the  dry-as-dust  relics  of  a  past  that  has  had  its  day,  and 
might  as  well  step  aside  and  give  the  present  a  chance. 
There  was  another  thing  that  made  her  presence  almost 
irksome  to  me,  and  that  was  the  consciousness  of  the 
lalse  part  I  was  acting  toward  her.  I  don't  see  how 
your  stage  actor  can  play  the  lover  to  perfection  when 
it  is  only  make-believe,  and  mnst  say  that  I  fonnd  it 
much  more  like  work  than  play,  the  only  time  I  ever 
tried  it ;  besides,  it  irritated  me  to  that  degree  that  I 
was  repeatedly  guilty  of  treating  Miss  Brandon  with  a 
lack  of  consideration,  not  to  say  a  positive  harshness, 
that  she  was  far  from  meriting  at  my  hands.  There,  my 
confession  is  ended ;  you  see  by  my  frank  unreserve  that 
1  am  acting  no  double  part  with  yon,  so  proceed  freely 
and  unrestrainedly  with  yonr  own  story." 

"  I  saw  a  great  deal  of  Monsieur,"  she  resumed,  with 
an  alacrity  and  animation  she  had  not  previously  ex- 
hibited, "  and,  to  tell  the  plain  truth,  his  companionship 
was  the  only  solace  I  had.  Yon  do  not  see  what  need 
I  had  of  solace  ;  I  will  explain.  I  had  lost  my  own  self- 
approval,  I  had  sunk  in  my  own  estimation ;  for  I  knew, 
after  the  sacred  promise  I  gave  yon,  on  the  day  of  your 
departure,  that  1  was  a  base,  imworthy  ingrate  to  violate 
it.  Monsieur  Avas  the  only  person  v/ho  overcame  my 
scruples  and  reconciled  me  to  myself,  so  he  was  always 
welcome.  He  so  persistently  assured  me  that  you  and 
I  were  wholly  unfitted  for  each  other,  through  disparity 
of  years  and  diversity  of  taste  and  disposition,  that  I 


272  THE   ETVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OE, 

was  more  than  half  persuaded  that  he  was  right — while 
I  was  with  him.  Left  alone  again,  the  nphraidings  of 
my  own  conscience  were  absolutely  insupportable, \intil 
lie  persnaded  me  anew  that  there  was  not  the  least  occa- 
sum  for  such  self-reproaches.  My  health  failed ;  I  felt 
more  than  ever  the  need  of  kindly  sympathy  ;  and  he 
was  the  only  person  in  the  world  from  whom  I  was 
always  sure  of  receiving  it." 

"There  you  do  me  injustice,  Lucy.  If  I  did  not 
write  you  as  soon  as  you  could  have  expected  to  hear 
from  me,  it  was  because  my  duties  were  arduous,  and 
my  time  not  at  my  own  disposal.  When  I  did  send  you 
a  letter,  as  kindly  worded  as  I  knew  hoAv  to  make  it, 
you  never  answered  it." 

"  I  wrote  you  an  answer,  but  it  was  never  sent." 

"  How  was  that  ?" 

"  I  was  putting  on  my  bonnet  and  scarf  to  carry  the 
letter  to  the  office,  when  Monsieur  Meurice  came  in  and 
read  your  name  on  the  envelope.  ^  This  reminds  me,' 
said  he,  '  that  I  have  also  to  write  Mr.  Cnruthers,  and  it 
is  best  that  he  should  hear  from  us  both  at  once.  He 
was  one  of  my  most  useful  patrons  when  I  lirst  came  to 
this  country,  and  he  is  not  to  think  that  I  am  capable 
of  making  an  ungrateful  return  for  past  favors.  Un- 
doubtedly you  have  informed  him  that,  being  convinced 
that  a  union  between  you  would  not  be  conducive  to 
the  happiness  of  either,  you  terminated  the  engagement 
and  took  the  initiative  in  fostering  the  attachment  and 
encouraging  the  advances  of  one  without  whom  exist- 
ence would  be  to  you  a  blank.  Let  me  read  what  you 
have  written,  and  I  will  but  reiterate  the  same;  suiely 
lie  will  not  refuse  credence  to  the  concurrent  testimony 
of  two  impartial  witnesses.' 

''  I  couldn't  endure  to  have  him  read  the  letter,  so  I 
tore  it  up,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it." 

"  Did  not  Mrs.  Thornton  perceive  the  pernicious  influ- 


THE   BLACK    PLUIME    RIFLES.  273 

ence  that  was  gaining  sway  over  you,  and  warn  you 
against  yielding  to  it  ?" 

^  '•  She  gave  me  no  warning,  but  she  treated  me  with  a 
distant  coldness  that  repelled  my  confidence,  and  often 
spoke  in  a  way  that  reminded  me  most  painlhlly  of  my 
blameworthy  conduct  toward  yourself.  One  warm  day 
we  were  sitting  together  in  the  hall,  the  door  open  so 
that  the  air  might  draw  through  the  outer  blind,  which 
was  closed,  when  she  began  comparing  your  character 
with  that  of  Monsieur  Meurice,  greatly  to  his  disadvan- 
tage. I  never  heard  her  so  cutting  and  severe.  She 
had  another  listener,  too,  although  neither  of  us  knew 
it  at  the  time.  Monsieur,  himself,  from  the  steps  where 
he  was  waiting  for  a  break  in  our  conversation  before 
ringing,  heard  every  word  that  passed  between  us. 
After  that,  he  insisted  on  placing  me  beyond  the  reach 
of  what  he  called  Mrs.  Tliornton's  intermeddling  and 
officious  tyranny,  and  gave  me  no  peace  until  I  con- 
sented to  remove  to  a  boarding-house  of  his  own  selec- 
tion. It  seems  incomprehensible  to  me,  now,  that  I 
should  so  readily  have  complied  with  all  his  suggestions, 
however  unusual.  I  can  only  think  of  a  rashly  ven- 
turesome fly  that  has  incautiously  approached  a  spider's 
web,  unaware  of  the  danger,  until  hopelessly  entangled 
in  its  toils. 

"  Miss  Barton  called  on  me  by  his  invitation,  and 
in  his  presence  congratulated  me  on  my  approaching 
nuptials.  I  denied,  point  blank,  that  there  was  any  oc- 
casion for  such  congratulation.  She  turned  to  Monsieur 
w^ith  a  look  of  qestioning  surprise.  He  bent  on  me  a 
look  of  the  most  bland  and  tender  forbearance,  as  he 
said  :  '  Mignonne  chmce^  she  is  indisposed  with  agacement 
of  the  nerves,  and  nothing  sh-dl  be  spoken  of  to  her  an- 
noyance. Does  she  affect  publicity,  we  are  open-mouth- 
ed to  all  the  world ;  does  she  choose  rather  to  screen 
herself,  like  the  enchanting  Undine,  in  draperies  of 

12* 


274  THE    lilVAL  VOLTXTEEUS;    OR, 

transparent  reserve,  Tve  are  silent  as  the  grave.'  I  did 
not  wish  to  make  myself  ridiculous,  and  so  gave  up  all 
attempts  at  denial  or  remonstrance. 

'•  Then  came  news  that  my  nncle  had  been  instantly 
killed  by  the  accidental  explosion  of  a  mortar  on  board 
one  of  the  gunboats  in  which  he  had  sailed  with  the 
great  naval  expedition.  Kext  avc  heard  that  you  was 
seriously  if  not  fatally  wounded,  and  my  last  hope 
seemed  to  centre  in  Monsieur  Meurice.  My  health 
broke  down  completely,  and  I  was  scarcely  able  to 
leave  my  room.  The  physician  he  called  in  recommend- 
ed change  of  air  and  scene,  and  proposed  a  sea-voyage 
as  my  surest,  if  not  my  only,  chance  of  recovery.  What 
were  you  saying,  Mr.  Caruthers  ?" 

"  That  the  whole  plan  was  a  detestable  and  nefarious 
league  against  a  defencsless  and  unsuspecting  woman,  and 
I  would  to  like  pay  the  conspirators  in  so  vile  a  scheme 
their  just  duos.     Proceed  ;  unravel  the  rest  of  the  plot." 

'•  I  caught  at  the  idea  of  change  with  an  eagerness  1 
am  at  a  loss  to  account  for.  I  had  been  so  miserable  in 
that  boarding-house  that  everything  connected  vrith  it 
had  a  melancholy  cast,  and  1  longed  to  get  away.  The 
doctor  said  this  craving  for  change  was  generally  found 
associated  with  a  debility  like  mine,  and  that  it  would 
disappear,  my  wretchedly  low  spirits  also,  under  the  re- 
novating eflects  of  the  bracing  sea  air.  It  was  he  wdio 
proposed  my  marriage  with  Monsieur  previous  to  un- 
dertaking the  voyage.  I  had  gone  too  far  to  recede.  I 
seemed  to  have  lost  all  power  of  volition,  and  resigned 
myself  passively  to  the  current  of  events.  I  was  too 
weak  to  resist. 

"  We  were  to  have  been  married  at  the  Church  of  the 
Messiah  ;  but  the  doctor  objected  that  the  publicity  and 
fatigue  would  necessitate  too  much  exertion  for  one  in 
my  feeble  state,  so  it  was  decided  that  the  ceremony 
should  take  place  privately  in  the  boarding-house  par- 


THE  BLACK   PLTj:irE   EIFLES.  275 

lor.  He  promised  to  be  present,  but  sent  excnses  and 
regreta  at^tlie  last  moment,  on  account  of  pressing  pro- 
fessional engagements,  so  that  not  a  single  person  was 
present  at  die  wedding  excepting  tlie  clergyman  who 
officiated,  on  the  occasion." 

"  Did  it  not  occur  to  you,  Lucy,  that  this  was  a  very 
BingLilar  way,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  of  conducting  a  ce- 
remonial ci  the  kind?'' 

"  Certainly  it  did  ;  but  you  must  remember  that  I  was 
very  singularly  circumstanced.  I  was  too  weak  to  re- 
ceive a  crowd,  of  guests,  even  if  I  had  had  a  father's 
house  to  invite  them  to,  instead  of  being  the  w\aif  I 
was;  and  as  I  have  already  told  you,  the  doctor  had 
decided  that  the  eiiect  of  appearing  in  a  crowded  church 
was  one  I  ought  not  to  undertake." 

^'  Who  was  this  doctor  ?" 

"  IS'obody  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of,  before  or  since  his 
attendance  on  me.     His  name  was  Denton." 

''-  Another  humbug,  I'll  be  bound.  Was  ever  a  wo- 
man with  the  slightest  claim  to  ordinary  sagacity  so 
easily  hoodwinked  and  entrapped  ?  Did  it  not  strike 
you  as  unusual  tiiut  there  were  no  published  bans,  and 
that  no  marriage  certificate  had  been  procured  ?" 

''  Marriage  certificate  !  I  never  saw  such  a  document 
in  my  life.  I  thought  it  was  the  intended  groom  who 
always  looked  out  for  that  sort  of  marriage  preliminary. 
Do  women  generally  go  round  hunting  up  ban  and 
certificate  I     I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing." 

"  Quite  likely ;  it  is  not  every  woman  who  is  so  un- 
fortunate as  to  place  herself  in  the  power  of  an  unscru- 
pulous adventurer  who  is  ready  to  trample  under  foot 
any  law,  human  or  divine,  that  interferes  with  the  ac- 
complishment of  his  own  selfish  schemes.  Did  the  sea- 
voyage  answer  your  expectations?" 

*'  Far  from  it.  I  was  scarcely  able  to  leave  my  state- 
room during  the  entire  passage." 


276  THE    EIVAL   YOLUNTEEKS;    OK, 

"  And  Monsieur ;  did  lie  devote  himself  constantly 
to  the  pleasing  task  of  beguiling  your  hours  of  their 
tediousness  f 

"  He  was  not  intentionally  neglectful  ;  hut  it  would 
have  made  him  ill,  so  he  said,  to  be  shut  up  as  I  was  ; 
and  I  couldn't  go  on  deck  or  into  the  saloon,  where  he 
spent  most  of  his  time." 

"  You  met  him  when  meals  were  served,  of  course." 

"  Xo,  indeed  ;  I  conld  not  go  down  the  cabin  stairs ; 
it  made  n:iy  head  swim  to  ivy.  He  sent  me,  by  tlie 
stewardess,  such  delicacies  as  were  procurable  on  board 
a  steamer,  but  I  scarcely  tasted  them.  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  thankful  I  was  when  that  tii-esome  voyage  was 
over,  and  I  could  get  the  sound  of  tramping  feet  and 
jarring  macliinery  out  of  my  head. 

"  We  had  a  lovely  suite  of  rooms  at  Paris,  overlook- 
ing a  charming  court-yard  with  vases  and  statues  and 
fountains.  Monsieur  was  very  kind  and  attentive,  and 
tlie  shop -windows — O  they  were  fascinating  beyond 
descriplion !  Such  satins !  such  embroideries !  such 
laces!  such  shawls! — such  splendor  of  coloring  and 
maguificeuce  of  material  I  never  feasted  my  eyes  on  be- 
fore. And  the  price  a  mere  hagatelle  ;  I  trimmed  my 
underskirts  with  flouncings  that  I  wear  for  sleeve  dra- 
peries now.  JIy  thoughts  being  diverted  from  myself 
by  all  this  novelty  of  display,  I  rapidly  improved  in 
health,  strength,  and  spirits. 

"  We  were  out  for  a  walk,  one  day,  Monsieur  and  I, 
when  we  accidentally  met  an  acquaintance  of  mine,  a 
brother  of  an  old  schoolmate,  Emma  Ford.  I  was  de- 
lighted at  the  sight  of  a  familiar  face,  and  at  sound  of 
the  language  I  had  been  brought  up  to  speak  and  hear. 
Monsieur  professed  to  be  equally  delighted,  and  invited, 
even  urged,  Mr.  Ford  to  dine  with  us  at  the  notel ;  and 
after  he  had  accepted  this  invitation,  insisted  on  his  rc- 
mainiuor  with  us  for  the  eveuin^r — ^so  he  staid.     We 


THE   BLACK   PLUilE   RIFLES.  277 

were  all  three  in  high  good-humor,  or  at  least,  I  sup- 
posed we  were — I  have  learned,  since  then,  not  to  rely 
too  strongly  on  the  evidence  furnished' bj  appearances. 
Monsieur  ordered  a  little  supper  at  ten,  and  after  that 
had  been  discussed,  left  us  for  awhile,  from  an  unavoid- 
able cause  of  absence,  so  he  said.  When  he  returned, 
Mr.  Ford  was  teaching  me  to  play,  with  a  curiously 
painted  set  of  cards,  a  game  called  'Fates.'  We  offer- 
ed to  throw  up  the  game  when  he  came  in,  as  an  odd 
number  would  have  spoiled  all ;  but  he  so  cordially  in- 
sisted on  our  finishing  it,  that  we  kept  on. 

"  1  had  not  the  remotest  idea  that  anything  had  gone 
wrong  until  after  our  guest  had  taken  leave.  The  door 
was  scarcely  closed  behind  him,  when  Monsieur  began 
to  rave  like  a  madman.  No  protestations  of  mine 
calmed  his  rage  in  the  least.  No  denunciations  that  he 
could  heap  upon  me  seemed  in  his  opinion  too  severe. 
He  said  I  would  find  that  I  had  a  very  different- person 
to  deal  with  from  that  uxorious  C^uthers;  and  swore 
that  he  would  be  the  dupe  of  no  woman's  coquetries. 
He  bade  me  rue  the  day  in  which  I  chan^^ed  his  friend- 
ship to  an  enmity  that  would  overleap  all  difliculties  in 
the  pursuit  of  revenge.  He  was  terrible  in  his  wrath  ; 
a  cold,  cruel  gleam  in  his  eyes ;  his  lips  drawn  back 
from  his  teeth  ;  and  his  words  coming  so  fast,  in  his 
own  tongue,  that  1  was  not  always  able  to  catch  their 
full  significance.  He  concluded  by  warning  me  not  to 
try  his  patience  too  far,  or  he  should  be  driven  to  a 
method  of  retaliation  it  was  at  any  moment  in  his 
power  to  make,  by  disavowing  a  marriage  whose  vali- 
dity he  defied  me  to  prove. 

"That  was  the  first  time  that  the  singular  circum- 
st-:inces  attending  our  marriage  occurred  to  me  as  a 
matter  of  doubt  and  apprehension  ;  and  I  lay  awake 
the  whole  night  thinking  them  over.  I  could  not  make 
up  my  mind  that  Monsieur  really  had  the  power  of  ful- 


2Y8  THE   RIVAL   VOLUXTEEKS;    OS, 

filling  .1  threat  whoso  accomplishment  would  have  left 
me — -nobody  ;  but  his  violent  exhibition  of  temper,  with 
his  imjiist  and  intemperate  language,  had  taught  me  to 
fear  and  mistrust  him  ;  and  I  looked  forward  with  a 
sinking  heart  to  tlie  prospect  of  repeated  bickerings  and 
altercations  I  had  every  reason  to  expect. 

"  He  went  out  next  morning,  directly  after  break- 
fast, saying  that  he  was  going  to  spend  the  day  with  a 
friend  ;  but  I  had  an  uncomfortable  suspicion  that  he 
was  lurking  somewhere  in  the  vicinity,  in  order  to  play 
the  spy  upon  my  movements.  Mr.  Ford  called  accord- 
ing to  agreement,  to  pay  his  parting  respects  before  his 
departure  for  Bordeaux.  Of  course  I  declined  seeing, 
him. 

"  Soon  after  he  went  away  there  was  a  light  knock 
at  my  dressing-room  door.  On  opening  it,  I  found  the 
trim  little  maid,  Cynthine.  who  always  answered  my 
bell,  standing  outside. 

'^ '  Is  Madame  quite  alone  V  she  asked,  with  a  mys- 
terious air. 

"  '  Quite  alone,'  I  replied,  not  a  little  surprised  at  her 
intruding  upon  me  without  being  summoned. 

"  Stepping  inside  the  door,  she  pushed  it  together 
behind  her,  and  held  out  a  letter,  saying  that  she  had 
been  requested  to  place  it  in  my  own  hand  when  no  one 
else  was  present.  Suspecting  some  trick  on  the  part  of 
Monsieur,  and  not  wishing  to  lend  my  aid  in  furtherance 
of  any  such  artifice,  I  hesitated  about  taking  the  letter, 
and  asked  where  she  got  it. 

"  '  From  a  discreet  youth,  who  ran  away  before  I  had 
time  to  ask  his  name,'  she  answered,  with  a  smile,  half 
saucy  and  half  demure  ;  '  and  if  I  can  be  of  any  ser- 
vice. Madame  may  command  my  utmost  discretion.' 

"  She  dropped  the  letter  in  my  hand,  and  tripped 
away. 

"  I  scarcely  heeded  her  words  at  the  time  they  were 


THE  black:  plume  eifles.  27S 

spoken,  but  I  after^vards  recalled  them,  greatly  to  my 
own  advantage. 

"  Catting  the  envelope,  and  nnfolding  the  large  sheet 
of  paper  it  held,  the  lirst  words  that  caught  my  eye 
were,  'private  and  confidential,'  written  in  a  bold,  firm, 
masculine  hand,  and  inclosed  in  l-.rackets.  It  was  but 
the  work  of  an  instant  to  turn  to  tiie  signature,  which 
v.-as  that  of  Lawyer  Auverne.  1  knew  it  must  be  a 
matter  of  grave  moment  that  would  induce  him  not 
only  to  write  me,  but  to  take  the  pains  he  must  have 
taken  to  convey  the  letter  directly  to  my  own  keep- 
ing." 

''  Xot  so  difficult  a  matter  as  it  might  seem  at  first 
thought.  Mr.  Auverne  has  a  nephew  who  is  studying 
surgery  at  Paris,  and  your  letter  was  doubtless  sent 
under  cover  to  him.  Do  not  let  me  interrupt  you 
longer." 

"  The  lawyer  wrote  me  that  he  had  received  a  letter 
from  Monsieur  Meurice,  postmarked  Xew  York,  and 
dated  the  very  day  we  took  passage  by  steamer  from 
that  city,  directing  him  to  sell  the  house  you  deeded  to 
me,  even  at  a  heavy  discount  on  its  original  cost  and 
real  valae,  and  pledging  himself  to  obtain  my  written 
sanction  to  the  procedure  whenever  it  should  be  needed. 
Mr.  Auverne  protested  most  earnestly  against  putting  my 
name  to  any  paper  Monsieur  Meurice  might  request  me 
to  sign.  The  remainder  of  the  communication  convinced 
me  that  his  threat  of  disavowing  our  marriage  was  no 
idle  menace,  but  a  fearful  weapon  that  he  really  had  the 
power  to  wield  against  me.  You  will  agree  with  me 
when  I  tell  you  wiiat  that  remainder  was. 

''  When  I  read  that  Mr.  Auverne  had  just  been  instru- 
mental in  sending  a  fellow,  calling  himself  ]^ed  Fran- 
zelman,  to  the  penitentiary,  for  going  round  nights 
bre-aking  windows,  and  making  a  very  good  thing  of  it 
by  turning  glazier  daytimes,  and  setting  the  glass  that, 


iZO.  THE   EIYAL   TOLTyrEEKS  ;    OR, 

but  for  his  liandiTrork,  never  would  have  needed  setting, 
I  couldn't  see  Avhat  tliat  had  to  do  with  my  case.  It 
was  not  until  I  reached  a  paragraph  informing  me  tiiat 
Abednego  Witherspoon,  the  man  who  married  us,  and 
Ked  Franzelman  were  one  and  the  same  person,  that 
I  waked  up  to  the  full  enormity  of  Xed's  delinquencies. 
It  seems  that  he  liad  owned  a  flat-boat,  by  means  of 
which  he  had  plied  a  very  profitable  trade  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi, nntil  that  river  fell  into  the  control  of  the  insur- 
gents, and  he  was  driven  out  of  employ.  Then  he 
turned  his  hand  to  any  sort  of  occupation  that  came  in 
his  way  ;  nothing  came  amiss,  only  provided  it  was  suf- 
ficiently remunerative.  He  could  pick  a  lock,  or  preach 
a  sermon  ;  give  good  advice,  or  follow  evil  counsel ; 
expatiate  with  unction  on  the  just  deserts  of  all  wrong- 
doers, of  whom  he  was  chief,  or  practice  a  trick  with 
loaded  dice  ;  but  he  could  bring  no  satisfactory  proof 
that  he  was  a  regularly  ordained  minister  of  any  estab- 
lished persuasion. 

"  The  perusal  of  this  letter  left  my  thoughts  in  a  per- 
fect whirl.  The  ground  I  was  beginning  to  believe 
secure,  seemed  once  more  sliding  from  under  my  feet. 
The  reason  for  Monsieur's  kindness  and  devotion  was 
all  explained ;  he  would  cajole  me  with  fair  words  until 
my  fortune  was  his,  and  then  he  was  at  full  liberty  to 
cast  me  off,  when  and  how  he  pleased.  If  he  is  free  to 
cast  me  off,  I  said  to  myself,  then  am  I  equally  free  to 
go  ;  but  oh  I  the  fearful  price  of  accepting  such  freedom. 
I  thought  of  meeting  those  from  whom  I  had  received 
notes  of  congratulation  as  Madame  Meurice,  after  hav- 
ing resumed  the  name  of  Lucy  Sears.  It  never  occurred 
to  me  that,  in  forsaking  him,  I  was  exposing  myself  to 
the  crushing  sort  of  blow  you  gave  me,  or  I  should  have 
shrunk  still  more  from  the  trying  ordeal  I  was  forced  to 
]3ass  through  in  order  to  escape  the  false  position  into 
which  I  had  been  artfdly  lured.     The  ties  that  bound 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  281 

me  to  this  man  had  already  become  hateful  and  galling 
to  me  ;  but  not  on  that  account  would  I  have  dreamed 
of  rending  them  asunder  ;  not  until  I  found  that  they 
were  bonds  basely  forged,  to  be  as  basely  riven  when 
they  had  served  the  selfish  designs  of  their  forger,  did  I 
fully  and  firmly,  witli  such  deliberate  resolve  as  in  my 
intense  excitement  I  was  capable  of  forming,  decide  to 
throw  ofi"  the  name  I  had  no  right  to  bear,  and  to  fiee 
from  a  bondage  to  which  I  had  been  subjected  through 
fraud  and  deceit. 

'•  I  never  was  accustomed  to  the  responsibility  of 
thinking  and  acting  for  myself  in  matters  of  import- 
ance ;  and,  alone  as  I  was,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  city, 
I  was  sadly  perplexed  as  to  the  safest  and  speediest 
means  of  carrying  out  my  plan,  undetected  by  Monsieur 
Meurice.  In  this  strait,  I  bethought  me  of  Cynthine's 
offer  of  assistance,  and  made  up  my  mind  that  I  could 
not  do  better  than  to  avail  myself  of  the  'discretion' 
she  had  been  so  ready  to  place  at  my  service.  Ringing 
for  her,  I  explained  so  much  of  my  intentions  as  was 
necessary  to  win  her  to  my  interests,  and  then  secured 
her  hearty  cooperation  by  the  present  of  a  blue  mus- 
lin dress,  with  a  lovely  set  of  turquoise  ornaments  to 
match." 

"  You  did  excellently  well  for  a  novice ;  what 
next?" 

"I  had  not  the  means  at  hand  for  defraying  my 
travelling  expenses  on  the  voyage  home." 

"  A  serious  drawback  that ;  you  could  not  have  had 
one  more  so." 

"  I  had  to  place  more  confidence  in  Cynthine  than  I 
originally  decided  on.  I  did  not  dare  to  go  myself  to  a 
pawnbroker's,  from  fear  of  being  seen  and  followed  by 
Monsieur,  so  I  was  obliged  to  trust  my  diamond  brace- 
let to  her,  and  she  disposed  of  it  for  little  more  than 
half  its  real  value." 


282  THE   EIVAL   V0LU2sTEEKS;    OE, 

'*  You  Iind  reason  to  be  tliankfiil  tliat  you  got  that 
amount,  or  ever  laid  eyes  on  tiio  girl  agciin,  with  sucli  a 
preminm  on  dishonesty  as  that  in  her  keeping." 

'•I  know  nothing  ot'  h»er  trustworthiness  in  general, 
but  she  proved  faithful  and  grateful  in  my  case,  I  will 
say  that  for  her.  Fortunately,  she  had  a  brother  who 
was  a  voUiirier,  and  one  of  the  hotel  porters  as  sweet- 
heart. I  did  not  like  to  run  the  risk  of  having  my 
trunks  carried  out  by  the  main  entrance,  lest  they  should 
be  discovered  by  Monsieur  Meurice,  and  my  whole  plan 
of  flight  be  frustrated.  Cynthine  seemed  to  have  an 
intuitive  perception  of  all  the  exigencies  of  the  case,  and 
to  And  means  for  obviating  them  with  a  readiness  and 
facility  of  which  I  was  wdiolly  incapable." 

"  A  French  woman  for  an  intrigue,"  sententiously 
interpolated  Mr.  Caruthers. 

''  But  there  was  no  intrigue  in  my  way  of  effecting 
my  escape,"  remonstrated  Lucy,  with  a  look  of  jDcrtur- 
batiou  and  distress. 

'•  I  did  not  niean  to  assert  that  there  was  anything  of 
the  kind,  only  that  your  maid  evidently  thought  there 
was,  which  made  it  the  same  thing  fur  her,  rendering 
her  a  much  more  valuable  auxiliary  than  she  might 
otherwise  have  been.  Let  me  hear  how  she  overcame 
the  difficulties  of  extricating  you  from  a  position  more 
perilous  than  you  seem  to  have  been  aware  of;  for  if 
Monsieur  Meurice  had  once  suspected  your  purpose,  ho 
would  have  moved  heaven  and  earth  to  thwart  it." 

"  I  was  fully  aware  of  that ;  and  my  dread  of  doing 
anything  to  arouse  such  suspicion  on  his  part,  almost 
unfitted  me  for  taking  the  needful  precautions  for 
insuring  the  success  of  my  plan.  My  own  trunks  were 
left  undisturbed  in  the  closet,  and  a  couple  of  new  ones, 
of  much  cheaper  make,  were  procured  for  me  by  the 
porter  already  mentioned,  for  which  I  paid  exorbi- 
tantly." 


THE   BLACK   PLTJiME   EIFLE8.  283 

^'  Of  course  the  fellow  looked  out  for  his  commission," 
remarked  Mr.  Cariitliers,  with  quick  mercantile  com- 
prehension. 

''  He  marked  the  cards,  in  a  coarse,  legible  hand, 
with  the  assumed  name,  Clarice  Godefrov,  under  which 
I  was  to  travel,  and  tacked  them  to  the  trunks,  which 
Cjnthine  packed  in  a  linen  closet  leading  from  the  land- 
ing, carrying  my  wearing  apparel  there  as  she  needed 
it.  While  she  was  thus  occupied,  I  sat  in  the  parlor, 
listening  to  every  step  in  the  corridor,  ready  to  give  her 
warning  at. the  first  intimation  of  Monsieur's  approach. 
If  he  had  come  in,  I  never  could  have  retained  an 
appearance  of  even  tolerable  composure,  and  my  agita- 
tion must  have  betrayed  to  his  quick  perceptions  that 
something  unusual  was  going  on  ;  and  he  would  not 
have  rested  a  minute  until  he  had  found  out  Vvdiat  it 
was.  A  rap  at  the  door  sent  my  heart  to  my  throat, 
and  me  to  my  feet.  I  gave  Cynthine  a  signal  to  keep 
out  of  the  way,  and  went  to  the  door,  where  a  shop-boy 
handed  me  a  box  of  embroidered  neck-ties  that  Monsieur 
had  just  purchased,  proving  to  me  that  he  had  not  left 
town  as  he  had  asserted  his  intention  of  doing.  This 
made  me  more  than  ever  anxious  to  get  away  before  his 
return  ;  and  dragging  Cynthine  out  of  the  linen  closet, 
where  she  had  fled  at  my  signal  of  danger,  I  begged  her 
to  hasten  preparations  for  my  departure  by  every  means 
in  her  power.  We  were  not  again  interrupted.  My 
baggage  left  by  way  of  the  servants'  hall. 

'•I  was  all  ready  to  start  when  Cynthine  placed  a 
crumpled  scrap  of  paper  and  a  pencil  in  my  hand. 

'''One  moment,  Madame,  before  putting  on  your 
gloves.  Henri  says,  will  you  be  pleased  to  write  down 
the  name  of  the  city  you  are  going  to,  and  he  will  drop 
you  a  line,  directed  to  Clarice  Godefroy,  if  anything 
should  happen,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  which  that 
lady  ought  to  be  made  to  know.' " 


284  THE   EITAL   VOLVXTEEES  ;    OE, 

"  Grateful  for  the  girl's  kindly  forethought  in  my  be- 
half, I  gh'idly  complied  with  her  request. 

"  Going  down  equipped  only  M'itii  reticule  and  ])ara- 
solette,  as  if  for  an  ordinary  shopping  expedition,  I 
entered  a  hack,  called  for  nie  by  a  servant  from  the 
nearest  stand,  and  Avas  set  down  at  a  fashionable  milli- 
ner's, where  I  bought  a  few  trifles  to  account  for  my 
appearance  in  the  sliop,  which  I  left  by  a  door  opening 
on  a  diflerent  street  from  tlie  one  by  which  I  had  en- 
tered. Satisfying  myself  that  I  was  neither  followed 
nor  observed,  I  walked  rapidly  to  the  corner  of  an 
obscure  lane,  where  I  met  the  voiturier  with  the  con- 
veyance specially  provided  to  take  me  to  the  railway 
station,  where  my  trunks  had  already  preceded  me.  I 
was  so  relieved  when  the  cars  moved  off  at  a  rate  of 
speed  that  promised  soon  to  put  a  sate  distance  between 
me  and  the  city  from  which  I  had  fled.  Several  sliglit 
detentions  occurring  on  the  way,  put  me  in  an  ag<my 
of  apprehension  that  Monsieur  might  take  advantage 
of  them  to  pursue  and  overtake  me.  That  whole  j^'ur- 
ney  was  one  fever  of  apprehension,  and  I  did  not  feel 
safe  from  pursuit,  even  when  I  had  reached  a  Havre 
Hotel.  I  scarcely  ventured  outside  my  room,  until 
after  the  servant  I  had  sent  to  the  ofiice  brought  me  a 
letter  that  greatly  allayed  my  fears.  In  it  I  was  in- 
formed that  Monsieur  liad  returned  to  the  hotel  shortly 
after  my  leaving  it.  Then  my  dressing-room  bell  rang, 
and  Cynthine  obeyed  tlie  summons.  He  asked  how 
long  I  had  been  out,  and  she  told  him  ;  where  had  I 
gone;  she  put  her  disr-retion  at  my  service,  and  knew 
nothing ;  when  would  I  return  ;  she  was  wholly  igno- 
rant on  that  point.  He  dismissed  her  with  a  plain 
intimation  of  displeasure  at  her  want  of  communicative- 
ness. She  had  hardly  reached  the  foot  of  tlie  stairs 
when  the  bell  rang  again,  with  a  sudden  and  angry 
peal.     How  came  it,  he  asked,  that  my  bureau  drawers 


THE   BLACK   PLUilE   EIFLES.  285 

were  nearly  empty,  and  where  vras  tlie  key  to  my 
dressing-room  closet.  Once  more  she  placed  her  dis- 
cretion at  my  service,  and  left  him  as  wise  as  she  found 
him.  He  sent  lor  the  landlord,  who  was  very  bland 
and  very  mnch  at  Monsieur's  service,  but  in  despair  at 
being  unable  to  make  return  pertinent  to  his  inquiries. 

"  \yhcn  Cynthine  Avent  down  a  second  time,  she 
found  her  brother  waiting  to  tell  her  that  he  had  suc- 
cessfully carried  out  his  part  of  the  agreement.  She 
told  him  of  the  new  turn  affairs  had  taken,  and  he  de- 
termined to  watch  Monsieur's  movements  if  he  shonld 
leave  the  hotel.  He  soon  came  out,  went  to  the  coach- 
stand,  and  drove  off  in  the  very  hack  that  had  been 
ordered  for  me  a  short  time  before.  He  was  not  gone 
long,  returned  in  haste,  remained  but  a  few  minutes, 
and  started  off  once  more  with  a  valise  in  his  hand. 
The  voitiiriei'  kept  trace  of  him  until  he  saw  him  fairly 
.on  his  way,  by  rail,  for  Bordeaux. 

"  I  breathed  more  freely  after  learning  these  particu- 
lars ;■  but  lost  no  time  in  taking  passage,  by  steamer,  for 
Kew  York.  From  that  place  I  went  directly  to  Mrs. 
Thornton,  who,  notwithstanding  my  previous  disregard 
for  her  wholesome  counsels,  has  treated  me  with  a  gen- 
tleness and  forbearance  for  which  I  can  never  be  suffi- 
ciently grateful.  I  had  thought  to  find  with  her  a  more 
peaceful  asylum  than  I  shall  find  anywhere,  at  least 
anywhere  in  this  part  of  the  country,  while  I  am  for- 
ever haunted  by  this  constant  sense  of  dread  and  appre- 
hension." 

"  What  is  it  you  fear  now  ?" 

"  That  Monsieur  will  cress  the  sea  to  urge  his  claiin 
on  my  hand." 

"But  he  has  no  such  claim  rightfully  to  urge." 

"  I  know^  he  has  no  rightful  claim  on  my  hand;  but  I 
have,  or  might  have  such  a  one  on  his." 

*'  What  claim,  pray  ?" 


286  THE    KIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  *,    OR, 

"  Mr.  Anvenie  says  that  if  I  should  take  a  solemn 
oath  in  presence  of  a  magistrate  that  our  marriage, 
according  to  my  most  sacred  belief,  then  and  shice,  so 
long  as  1  bore  the  name  of  Madame  Meurice,  was 
legally  solemnized,  it  would,  so  far  as  he  could  see,  be 
no  longer  void.  Oh,  Mr.  Caruthers  !  could  that  man,  by 
taunts  or  by  threats,  force  me  into  sj)eaking  words  I 
would  as  soon  die  as  utter?'' 

"  Remember,  Lucy,  that  such  words  would  ensure 
you  a  respectable  standing  in  society,  and  spare  you 
much  bitter  mortification." 

''  I  do  remember  it,  and  further,  that  such  words  would 
give  him  the  power  to  harass  and  torment  my  life  out, 
until  my  fortune  was  his — fatal  gift,  that  splendid  man- 
sion of  yours  to  me — and  then  the  sooner  I  died  the 
better  for  both  it  would  be.  I  quail  at  the  bare  possi- 
bility of  dra£r2:in!2^  out  an  existence  so  wretched.  No 
arts,  no  persuasions,  no  reproaches,  no  stratagems 
shall  ever  wring  from  my  unwilling  lips  words  that 
would  condemn  mo  to  such  a  fate.  Take  back  your 
liouse.  I  thought,  no  longer  ago  than  this  morning, 
that  I  would  keep  it  between  me  and  the  possibility  of 
want ;  it  was  a  poor  resolve  to  retain  a  golden  lure  for 
Monsieur.  If  you  will  allow  me  the  value  of  the  set  of 
diamonds  you  gave  me  in  happier  days,  I  will  take  the 
name  under  which  I  safely  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and 
bur}^  myself  in  some  eastern  town  or  village,  where,  in 
strict  seclusion  and  retirement,  I  may  find  the  peace  and 
rest  which  are  all  that  is  left  me  to  hope  for  in  the  way 
of  happiness." 

She  started  from  her  chair  with  a  sudden  cry  of  affright. 

Mr.  Caruthers  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  her 
glance,  and  savv'  only  a  young  hospital  physician  stand- 
ing in  the  door- way. 

''  "Would  you  like  to  have  your  arm  freshly  band- 
aged, sir  ?" 


THE    BLACK    PI-UME   RIFLES.  287 

"  ]N"ot  just  now ;  droj)  in  again  in  the  course  of  an 
hour." 

The  doctor  withdrew. 

Mr.  Caruthers  bent  a  look  of  fixed  and  searching 
scrutiny  upon  his  pale  and  trembling  companion,  who 
was  wiping  the  hirgc  drops  of  beaded  sweat  from  her 
brow.  His  last  doubt  vanished;  it  could  be  no  coun- 
terfeit terror  she  was  enduring. 

'•What  startled  jou  so,  Lucy  ?" 

''  I  thought  it  was  Monsieur  standing  in  the  door- 
way," she  faltered ;  "  the  silky  moustaches  were  exactly 
like  his,  the  height  and  figure  quite  similar." 

"  Supposing  it  had  been  he ;  what  harm  could  you 
fear  from  him  while  you  are  under  my  care?" 

"  You  advised  me  to  take  steps  that  would  render  my 
marriage  valid,  and  I  would  as  soon  be  advised  to  throw 
myself  into  the  river.  This  never-ending  terror  is  driv- 
ing me  out  of  my  senses  ;  how  shall  I  escapeit  ?" 

The  question  was  addressed  rather  to  her  own  per- 
turbed thoughts  than  to  him,  but  he  made  prompt 
response. 

"  By  giving  me  the  right  to  defend  yon  against  the 
world,  Lucy.  I  renew  niy  ofi:er  of  heart,  and  hand,  to 
be  taken  this  time,  if  at  all,  for  once  and  forever." 

She  looked  at  him  intently,  through  softly  gathering 
tears,  and  read  in  his  face  only  a  friendly  expression  ot 
lively  sympathy  and  tender  commiseration. 

"  You  were  always  generous  to  me,  never  more  so 
than  now ;  and  I  will  not  take  advantage  of  your  gene- 
rosity to  inflict  upon  you  such  a  burden  as  you  would 
soon  find  me." 

"  You  mistake  me  entirely,  Lucy.  It  is  to  no  prompt- 
ing of  compassion  that  you  owe  this  renewal  of  a  pre- 
vious ofter.  You  are  still  for  me  the  one  woman  in  all 
the  world,  and  your  refusal  would  dash  to  the  earth 
hopes  the  dearest  I  have  to  cherish." 


288  THE    niVAL   TOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

^'  "VTeigli  your  words  well,  Mr.  Caruthers.  I  broke 
faith  with  you  once  ;  could  you  unreservedly  trust  me 
again  ?  I  know  what  it  is  to  he  watched  and  suspected  ; 
I  could  not  endure  it  froni  you." 

^' Let  the  past  take  care  of  itself;  the  future  is  all 
that  remains  to  us.  My  proposal  has  sufficiently 
attested  my  conlidence  that  there  is  a  happy  future  in 
store  for  us." 

**  You  forget  the  stigma  attached  to  my  name." 

"  So  much  the  more  reason  for  your  taking  mine." 

"  But  what  if  Monsieur  Meurice  should  come  to  this 
country  in  pursuit  of  me  ?" 

"Let  hiui  cross  my  path,  and  see  how** he  comes 
out." 

'•  You  have  overlooked  the  opposition  you  will  be 
certain  to  encounter  from  your  own  family.  I  met 
Miss  Dian  in  the  street,  a  few  days  ago,  and  she 
crossed  to  the  opposite  sidewalk  to  avoid  recognizing 
me." 

"  If  Dian  cannot  treat  with  respect  and  courtesy  the 
lady  bearing  her  brother's  name,  he  can  forego  the  plea- 
sure of  her  society,  without  any  hearti*ending  sacrifice 
of  fraternal  regard,  that's  a  sure  case.  Kow,  Lucy,  have 
done  with  raising  all  these  objections  for  me  to  combat 
and  overcome.  Be  reasonable,  and  come  to  my — oh-h ! 
I  had  forgotten  that  this  once  strong  right  arm  of  mine 
is  useless  now.  Come  back  to  me,  and  we  will  bear 
and  forbear,  each  with  the  other ;  for  I.  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  only  through  mutual  concession  and  for- 
bearance can  any  union  be  made  a  source  of  happiness 
to  those  bound  by  its  compact." 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  289 

CHAPTEK   XYIII. 

AN    OLD   ACTOR   IX   A   KEW   GUISE. 

It  vrnQ  Lily  Barton's  twentieth  birthniglit,  and  toward 
the  invited  guests  who  had  assembled  in  honor  of  the 
occasion,  she  displayed  a  conrtesj  and  urbanity  that 
yielded  her  a  most  pleasurable  return.  In  this''  quiet 
testal  scene,  the  demeanor  of  those  gracing  the  same 
bj  their  presence  was  more  deeply  marked  by  an  all- 
pervading  sadness  than  quite  befitted  such  an  assembly, 
ihere  were  sunny  smiles  and  mirthful  sallies  on  youn^^ 
lips,  while  knots  of  grave  men  insensibly  collected  and 
spoke  111  subdued  tones  of  the  late  disasters  on  the  Eap- 
paliannock,  criticising  government  moves  and  military 
measures  with  an  outspoken  freedom  that,  under  despotic 
sway,  would  have  consigned  the  speakers  to  guarded 
fortress  or  dungeon  cell. 

In  an  arm-chair,  speaking  to  no  one,  his  eves  bent 
somewhat  wearily  on  the  floor,  sat  a  discharged  officer, 
the  arm  he  wore  in  a  sling  telling  why  he  had  left  his 
country  s  service.     A  light,  noiseless  step  drew  near. 

*'  lou  are  not  enjoying  yourself,  Kilby :  I  am  sorry  I 
persuaded  you  to  come." 

"  \  ^^„not  sorry  I  came,  if  you  are  spending  a  pleasant 
evenmor." 

''  It  will  be  pleasant  no  longer  ;  I  cannot  eniov  what 
makes  you  uncomfortable." 

^  "  iN'ot  uncomfortable,  Lucy  ;  though  I  must  say  there 
IS  no  place  in  the  world  for  me  like  a  certain  "lollino-- 
chair  drawn  up  before  a  grate  full  of  flickerino-  fire- 
hgat,  and  somebody  in  the  lady's  sewing-chair  op^)osite, 
wiio  keeps  still  as  a  mouse  while  my  head  runs  on 
business  cares,  and  chats  with  me  when  I'm  chatty." 

13 


290  THE   RIVAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

"  I  will  return  that  handsome  compliment  by  pro- 
posing that  we  go  home  at  once.  You  shall  get  off  that 
tiglit  dress  coat,  which  I  dare  say  hurts  your  lame  arm. 
It  is  not  very  late,  and  you  can  look  at  the  dancing  hre- 
light,  while  I  read  aloud  to  you  from  the  evening  paper 
just  what  you  always  first  search  out — latest  news  by 
telegrapli,  doings  at  the  brokers'  board,  and  the  adver- 
tising columns." 

*'  What !  talking  of  going  away  so  soon,"  broke  in  the 
young  hostess,  who  had  approached  them  unperceived. 
*'  I  appeal  to  you,  Mr.  Caruthers,  to  say  if  it  is  doing  as 
you  would  be  done  by  to  make  the  first  move  toward 
breaking  up  my  party  at  this  early  hour.  For  a  wonder, 
shoulder-straps  and  yelvet  facings  predominate  over 
wreaths  and  spangles  to-night.  Then  do  not  add  to  the 
list  of  uniformed  wall  flowers  by  carrying  off  an  elegant 
dancer,  and  the  only  bride  my  party  can  boast.  Leave 
her  with  us  another  hour,  will  you  not  ?" 

'•  Assuredly,  if  she  wishes  it ;  it  was  she,  not  I,  who 
proposed  leaving.  I  will  go  up  to  the  card-room  and 
see  who  is  there." 

He  put  his  words  in  effect. 

"  1  have  a  bit  of  news  for  you,"  said  Miss  Barton, 
drawing  Lucy  within  the  shade  of  heavy  draperies  cur- 
taining a  window ;  "  but  first  let  me  tell  you  that  you 
have  really  achieyed  a  triumph  to-night.  Miss  Caru- 
thers' cold  eyes  have  often  been  fixed  on  you,  and  the 
courteous,  respectful  attention  you  receive  from  others 
will,  in  time,  have  weight  with  her  and  oyercome  her 
prejudice  against  you.  Xow  for  my  news.  I  have  dis- 
covered, by  meeting  her  in  the  street  and  inquiring  her 
out,  that  the  youn^  lady  who  received  us  the  day  we 
went  to  St.  Marc  Hospital  together,  was  not  Miss  J3urr, 
but  the  veritable  Miss  Brandon,  who  once  came  so  near 
proving  a  successful  rival  of  yours.  She  was  lately 
married,  I  hear,  to  one  of  our  returned  volunteers,  who 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   KIFLES.  291 

is  maimed  for  life  ;  shocking,  isn't  it,  to  think  of  the 
horrible  risks  our  soldiers  run  ?  The  newlj  wedd3d 
pair  are  living  at  a  mortally  lonesome,  pokey,  out-of-the- 
Avay  place  in  the  country,  where  Mr.  Auverne,  who 
knows  all  about  them,  says  they  are  a  perfect  picture 
of  Arcadian  felicity.  Are  you  envious  of  one  who  for- 
merly threatened  your  own  supremacy  ?" 

''  They,  and  allothers,  are  heartily  welcome  to  their 
own  Arcadia,  so  long  as  mine  is  left  uninvaded." 

"  Then  you  hang  out  no  beacon  light  to  warn  inex- 
perienced navigators  off  the  dangerous  shoals  of  matri- 
mony." 

"  I  have  seen  no  such  shoals,  at  least  since  my  real 
marriage — of  mock  ceremonials  it  becometli  not  me  to 
speak." 

"You  are  naturally  yielding,  I  think;  but  whatever 
thwarts  my  purpose  I  oppose  with  a  stubborn  resist- 
ance, w^hich  is  part  of  my  nature.  The  very  idea  of  being 
bound  by  a  solemn  vow  to  obey  would,  1  fear,  be  a  pow- 
ful  incentive  to  open  revolt,  is  it  always  easy,  even  for 
you,  to  have  your  own  wishes  a  secondary  considera- 
tion, to  be  set  aside  on  the  instant,  if  such  whim  hap- 
pened to  seize  the  fancy  of  your  right  royal  liege  and 
master?" 

'-  You  do  not  state  the  case  fairly.  My  liege  lord  is 
so  doubly  pleased  to  see  me  pleased  that  I  must  be  heart- 
less and  ungrateful  not  to  prize  his  pleasure  more  highly 
than  my  own." 

"  Have  a  care,  or,  wearing  your  bonds  so  lightly,  you 
will  tempt  others  to  risk  the  same.  I  must  tell  you 
what  an  insufferable  noodle  I  have  been  making  of  my- 
self this  whole  blessed  evening.  You  remember  the 
gentleman  in  whose  favor  I  robbed  your  flower-stand  on 
my  way  to  St.  Marc's." 

"  I  recollect  the  robbery,  not  the  gentleman." 

"Well,  he  sent  me  a  lovely  bouquet  this  morning, 


292  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

from  whicli  I  took  this  blush-rose  at  my  bodice.  Kow, 
I  am  so  much  afraid  that  he  will  either  over-value  the 
compliment  or  be  repelled  by  my  boldness  in  bestowing 
it,  tliat  I  have  persistently  avoided  him  ever  since  his 
entrance,  not  having  so  much  as  changed  words  with 
him  yet.  I  wish  you  would,  look  about  us,  and  tell  me 
if  he  is  anywhere  in  this  room  ;  for  I  would  not,  on  any 
account,  have  him  suppose  that  I  was  looking  for  him 
with  the  purpose  of  singling  him  out  as  an  object  of  spe- 
cial attention." 

"Do  you  expect  me  to  recognize  a  stranger  at 
first  sight,  when  you  have  not  even  described  him  to 
me  ?" 

"  Excuse  my  stupidity.  He  is  dark  and  slight,  with  a 
bearded  chin,  brilliant  eyes,  and  a  highly  spirited,  intel- 
ligent cast  of  countenance." 

*'  That  description  will  apply  to  many  persons  pre- 
sent ;  you  must  be  more  definite." 

''  He  is  the  handsomest  man  in  the  room." 

"That  won't  answer;  tastes  are  so  apt  to  difi'er.  Tell 
me  something  that  he  wears." 

"  A  captain's  uniform." 

"  There  goes  one  ;  its  wearer  is  a  sandy-complexion ed 
man,  with  coarse,  bristling  sorrel  hair,  a  decided  squint 
of  the  left  eye,  and  " 

"  You  malicious  creature,  you  know  that  is  not  the 
person  I  refer  to.  He  has  a  clear,  olive  complexion, 
with  an  abundance  of  dark,  glossy  hair." 

"  That  must  be  he  who  is  making  his  way  toward  us 
with  another  gentleman.  Do  not  speak  or  you  will  be 
overheard,  as  they  are  quite  near." 

"  I  have  been  doing  my  best,  ever  since  my  arrival,  to 
find  or  make  an  opportunity  for  greeting  the  hostess ; 
but  fate  has  not  until  this  moment  befriended  me.  Al- 
low me  to  present  my  friend,  Mr.  Clermont — Miss 
Barton.     As  he  is   a  stranger  in  the  city,  I  took  the 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   EIFLES.  '       293 

liberty  of  bringlnor  him  wliere  I  knew  he  would  be  am- 
2)ly  repaid  for  coming." 

"  Any  friend  of  yours  is  m.ost  cordially  welcome  '' 

"Thank  yon.  And  now  as  I  claim  your  hand  for  the 
next  redowa,  you  wonld  be  showing  my  friend  a  mercy 
by  introducing  liim  to  a  partner." 

''"Certainly  ;  Mrs.  Caruthers,  Mr.  Clermont." 

"  I  am  charmed  to  make  Mrs.  Caruthers'  acquaintance. 
Permit  me  the  pleasure  " 

He  offered  his  hand,  and  both  conples  joined  the 
dancers. 

"  I  think,  although  your  name  is  unfamiliar  to  me, 
that  I  must  have  met  you,  or  some  one  nearly  resem- 
bling you,  before,"  remarked  Lucy  to  her  companion, 
wlio,  although  the  redowa  was  over,  and  he  must  have 
seen  that  his  presence  was  not  particularly  desired,  still 
maintained  his  position  at  her  side. 

"These  chance  resemblances  are  sometimes  sadly  per- 
plexing," he  carelessly  rejoined. 

She  was  constrained  and  unrestful,  but  unable  to  ac- 
count for  her  uneasiness.  Without  a  look  or  a  word 
amiss,  he  had  created  an  unfavorable  impression  on  her 
mind.  His  very  tones,  the  turn  of  his  head,  the  touch 
of  his  long,  slender  fingers,  had  jarred  those  subtler 
chords  of  being  whose  manifestations  it  is  so  difficult  to 
catch  and  imprison  in  plain  verbal  description.  He 
was  perfectly  at  ease,  graceful,  fluent,  self-possessed,  ap- 
parently quite  unobservant  of  her  embarrassment  and 
brief  malapropos  rejoinders.  With  scant  apology,  die 
crossed  the  room  to  escape  him. 

She  had  nearly  succeeded  in  regaining  her  disturbed 
composure  when  her  hand  was  hurriedly  grasped,  and 
Miss  Barton  asked,  in  a  guarded  whisper: 

"  Have  you  not  penetrated  his  disguise?  Beware  of 
Monsieur  Meurice !" 

"Beware!" 


294  THE  KivAL  volunteers;  or, 

The  word  seemed  hissed  in  the  ear  of  both. 

]\fiss  Barton  turned  with  a  look  of  surprise,  Lucy 
witli  one  of  nncnutrolhlble  terror,  in  search  of  the 
speaker  who  had  pronounced  this  sin^rle  word  of  sinister 
warning.  Behind  them  stood  Mr.  Clermont,  an  open 
photograph  album  in  his  hand,  intently  scanning  a  pic- 
tured face,  that  of  Lucy  Sears  in  bridal  robes,  with 
orange  wreatli  and  floating  veil.  She  gazed  at  him 
with  the  intensity  of  growing  conviction.  The  silky 
moustaches  had  disappeared,  the  hair  been  dyed  to  a 
deeper  shade,  and  the  foreign  accent  sedulously  ban- 
ished from  his  speech  ;  but  despite  all  these  attempts  at 
disguise,  Lucy  knew  that  the  man  whom  of  all  others 
she  had  most  reason  to  fear  and  dread  stood  before 
her. 

"  Open  a  window,  a  lady  is  fainting,"  cried  one  gentle- 
man to  anotlier. 

"  It  is  but  a  momentary  giddiness  that  will  be  over  in 
an  instant,"  explained  Miss  Barton,  supporting  her 
friend,  and  striving  to  screen  her  from  observation. 

"  Permit  that  I  make  myself  of  service,"  said  Mr.  Cler- 
mont, offering  his  arm. 

Miss  Barton  declined  this  proffer  of  aid  in  Lucy's  be- 
half, courteously  but  decidedly,  never  once  leaving  her 
until  she  saw  her  safely  seated  in  the  cloak-room,  when 
she  went  in  search  of  Mr.  Caruthers,  with  a  request 
from  his  wife  to  start  for  home  immediately.  He  was 
found  deep  in  a  game  at  whist;  interruption  in  such 
case  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  and  Lucy  decided  to 
remain  where  she  was  in  preference  to  returning  to 
the  drawing-room,  and  thereby  risl^ing  the  cliauce  of  a 
second  encounter  with  her  relentless  pursuer. 

"  ILilf  an  hour  ago,"  she  said  to  herself,  '-my  path 
for  the  future  lay  bright  and  smiling  before  me;  now 
the  very  foundations  of  my  happiness  seem  crumbling 
at  my  feet.     Of  what  did  he  bid  nie  beware  but  of  his 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  295 

own  evil  self?     If  we  could  only  get  away  from  this  ill- 
starred  entertainment." 

She  raised  her  eyes  with  a  quick,  startled  glance ; 
surely  something  in  the  room  had  been  slightly  moved. 
Yes ;  she  could  not  be  mistaken,  some  one  from  the 
landing  outside  was  slowly  and  cautiously  pushing  open 
the  door,  which  had  been  left  ajar.     Her  heart  beat 
fast.     What  the  cause  for  this  caution  and  stealth  ! 
"  Who  is  there  ?"  she  asked,  with  forced  calmness. 
^'  Ah,  you  are  here  then.     May  I  come  in  T  ^ 
A  sickening  thrill  crept  over  her,  as  she  replied  : 
"  Certainly  not.    This  room  is  appropriated  to  our  use ; 
your  hat-room  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stair-case." 
Disregarding  this  prohibition,  Mr.  Clermont  crossed 
the  threshold,  closed  the  door  behind  him,  and  leaning 
his  back  against  it,  stood  regarding  his  companion  with 
a  look  of  fixed  and  determinate  resolve.     She  shivered 
as  though  chilled  by  a  biting  wind.     Partially  master- 
ing the  tremor  that  shook  her  frame,  she  rose  and  ap- 
proached the  presuming  intruder. 

'•  Let  me  pass,  Monsieur,  I  will  go  to  my  husband." 
"  Ko  need,  sweet  love,  he  has  come  to  you." 
He  laid  his  hand  familiarly  on  her  shoulder,  and  she 
shook  it  off,  with  a  gesture  of  loathing  and  repugnance 
that  kindled  a  fiery  gleam  of  anger  in  his  eye. 

'•  It  is  at  Madame- s  option;  of  the  friendship  or  of  the 
enmity,  which  chooses  she  ?" 

"  I  care  not  which  so  I  may  but  be  free  from  your 
presence,"  she  desperately  replied. 

"  Have  a  care,  my  fair  lady  ;  for  every  word  humili- 
ating that  you  on  me  inflict,  to  yourself  shall  be  re- 
turned witli  the  usance  most  rigorous  exact.  Carry  your- 
self loftily  as  you  may,  I  will  bow  to  the  very  dust  that 
look  which  has  had  the  temerity  to  meet  my  own  with 
scorn.  Retract ;  it  is  not  yet  too  late,  and  permit  that 
I,  in  this  salute,  do  seal  the  pardon  " 


296  THE   P.IVAL   TOLUirrEERS  ;    OR, 

He  paused  abrnptlj,  for  a  slight  noise  made  him 
aware  that  tlie  handle  of  the  door  against  which  he 
leaned  had  been  cautiously  turned.  Before  she  was 
aware  of  his  purpose,  he  had  softly  turned  the  key  in 
the  lock,  and  by  a  very  sliglit  exercise  of  strength,  drawn 
her  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  room. 

"  You  ha\"e  no  right  to  detain  me  against  my  will ; 
no  right  to  be  here  at  all,"  she  earnest^  remonstrated. 
"  1  will  not  submit  to  such  imposition  ;  I  will  call  for 
help." 

''  And  brave  scandal !  Madame  has  of  the  corn-age 
one  grand  overplus  to  dare  so  much." 

There  was  a  rap  at  the  door. 

"  It  is  only  I,  Lily  ;  let  me  come  in." 

Lucy  attempted  to  dart  past  her  detainer,  but  he 
caught  and  held  her  fast  by  both  wrists  ;  held  her  also 
by  a  look  that  riveted  her  own  as  a  basilisk  glance.  He 
even  sn:iiled  with  malicious  amusement  at  her  inefi'ec- 
tual  struggles  to  release  herself. 

.  "  My  pretty  wren  pecks  at  the  hand  that  bars  its  cage 
— a  hand  kind  as  strong,  and  more  ready  to  caress  than, 
to  cross.  Fail  you  to  discern  the  good  will  screening 
you  from  the  impulsive  rashness  of  yourself?.  How  of 
it  with  a  stranger  to  be  found  closeted  ?  Ah,  Heaven, 
what  indiscretion." 

An  indignant  blush  burned  on  her  cheek. 

"  You  taunt  me  with  the  cruel  strait  to  which  you 
have  purposely  brought  me." 

"I  had  not  of  the  choice  any  other.  Suggest  a  place 
more  suitable  for  the  renewal  of  our  interview,  and  this 
one  terminates  on  the  instant." 

"  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  sort ;  you  mav  be  sure  of 
that." 

"  Then  the  suggestion  must  come  from  myself,  or  this 
meeting  be  prolonged  until  the  relations  between  us  to 
subsist  for  the  future  be  defined  most  accurate  precise." 


THE  BLACKS  PLTJME  RIFLES.  297 

"There  are  no  relations  to  subsist  between  us  for  tlie 
future." 

'•  I  venture  not  on  the  rudeness  of  to  contradict ;  but 
who  lives  shall  see,  and  who  wins  shall  wear  of  triumph 
the  smile." 

There  was  the  sound  of  a  man's  step  on  the  stairs. 

"  Leave  me,  I  beg  of  you,"  she  entreated,  wringing 
her  hands  in  a  perfect  fever  of  apprehension. 

"  The  word  is  yours  to  say — where  next  to  meet." 

"  Nowhere." 

_  "  Very  good.  I  can  afford  to  defy  the  appearances. 
Sit  down,  there  is  no  haste ;  we  will  not  fatigue  our- 
selves." 

"  I  will  appeal  to  my  husband  for  protection." 

"  That  is— to  myself." 

"  You  know  betfer.  You  defied  me  to  prove  the  legal- 
ity of  a  ceremony  that  was  neither  more  nor  less  than 
a  fraud  and  an  imposition." 

*•  Yery  correctly  stated.  I  did  thus  defy  you  to  the 
proof,  in  the  heat  of  angry  passion  ;  but  not  thus  safely 
could  you  have  defied  me ;  for  the  proofs  were  in  my 
possession,  and  are  so  still." 

''What  proofs?" 

"I  will  tell  you  at  our  next  meeting." 

''Such  meeting,  with  my  consent,  will  never  take 
place." 

"  Be  not  a  great  deal  positive,  so  you  shall  yield  with 
finer  grace,  i  ou  shall  retract ;  L  have  reason.  You 
will  not  provoke  the  alternative  ftital  that  from  your  re- 
fusal might  result.  Weigh  well  my  words.  Flatter  not 
yourself  that  they  are  lightly  spoken.  An  earnestness 
terrible  is  in  my  heart.  You  shall  meet  me  in  the  after- 
noon of  to-morrow,  when  it  has  the  hour  of  five,  in  your 
garden,  by  the  path  of  shrubbery  leading  from  the  bil- 
iiaid-room." 
.  "  I  shall  not." 

13* 


29S  THE   RITAL  VOLITN'TEEES  ;   OE, 

"  As  Madame  pleases.  Will  she  do  me  the  favor  to 
hand  this  card — the  card  of  Monsieur  Mcurice — to  her 
vannted  protector  ;  and  to  him  say,  with  my  compli- 
ments, that  Monsieur  awaits  with  impatience  a  call  from 
liis  old  patron."' 

Lucy  shook  from  head  to  foot  as  she  cauglit  the  look 
of  malevolent  hate  on  the  face  of  the  speaker,  and  felt 
that  there  was  no  crime  of  whoso  performance  he  was 
incapable. 

'•  \Vhat  harm  are  you  meditating  against  Mr.  Caru- 
thers  ?"  she  asked,  in  tremulous  tones. 

"  He  has  made  his  will ;  made  you  his  heir,  I  learn. 
Our  second  tour  shall  be  performed  in  a  style  of  splen- 
dor that  shall  strike  all  eyes." 

She  felt  that  death  woidd  be  preferable  to  the  fate  his 
woi'ds  darkly  suggested.  * 

He  perceived  ^hat  he  was  holding  her  in  the  bonds  of 
deadly  fear,  and  hastened  to  strengthen  such  bonds. 

"  My  word  of  honor,  he  shall  2:ive  me  the  satisfaction 
due  the  injured  honor  of  a  gentleman,  or  I  spit  at  his 
honor  of  the  base-born  canaille  ;  I  heap  on  liim  of  the 
insult  unbearable  gross.  Sacred  faith,  but  he  will 
tight  or  some  contractor  of  the  funerals  shall  have  a  job. 
Did  Madame  chance  to  hear  of  onegaroted  in  the  street 
the  last  dark  night,  not  much  for  motive  mercenary ; 
but  for  to  wipe  out  a  stain  of  honor,  for  to  revenge? 
Meester  Caruthers  shall  have  of  the  advantages  every 
one.  If  he  says  s-voixis,  of  them  we  will  choose;  and  if 
but  one  arm  he  can  use,  I  but  one  shall  make  to  strike." 

He  saw  the  color  fading  from  her  cheek,  noted  her 
sharply  drawn,  gasping  breath,  and  counted  his  final 
success  as  certain. 

"  Hark  !"  she  exclaimed,  in  a  startled  whisper,  "  what 
is  all  that  noise  on  the  stairs?" 

"  It  is  only  the  gentlemen  going  down  from  the  card- 
room,"  he  coolly  rejoined.   "  The  guests  will  soon  begiti 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  RIFLES.  29D 

to  leave  ;  your  decision  speedily  must  be  made.     You 
will  meet  me  as  I  proposed  ?" 

She  bent  her  head  in  token  of  acquiescence. 

He  left  her — left  her  to  her  own  bitter  self-upbraid- 
ing for  a  step  she  had  seen  no  practicable  mode  of 
avoiding  save  at  the  risk  of  consequences  she  dared  not 
brave  ;  to  a  vague  but  oppressive  sense  of  wrong-doing, 
for  which  she  was  wholly  at  a  loss  to  account.  Worst 
of  all  to  bear  was  the  thought  that  she  was  shut  out 
from  her  husband's  sympathy.  This  weight  of  wretch- 
edness must  be  borne  without  confession  or  complaint, 
for  a  revelation  of  its  cause  to  him  would  but  precipi- 
tate a  hostile,  perhaps  a  fatal,  encounter.  She  was  like 
a  bird  fluttering  in  the  meshes  of  a  fowler's  net,  and  • 
finding  no  mode  of  escape.  Then  what  if  M.  Meurice 
should  really  be  able  to  establish  the  validity  of  their 
marriage  ?  In  that  case,  Mr.  Caruthers' very  generosity 
in  providing  for  her  by  will,  in  case  she  should  survive 
liim,  might  prove  the  fatal  gift  that  was  to  work  the 
ruin  of  both.  The  probability  of  M.  Meurice  being 
able  to  produce  such  proofs  of  the  legality  of  their  union 
as  he  asserted  to  be  in  his  possession,  she  would  not  for 
an  instant  admit  to  herself;  but  the  very  possibility  of 
such  an  event  completely  unnerved  her.  He  had  pro- 
mised that  at  their  next  meeting  such  proofs  should  be 
forthcoming.  She  was  not  to  be  taken  in  by  any  fresh 
chicanery.  She  would  be  very  wary  ;  his  word  should 
pass  for  nothing ;  his  proofs  must  have  a  base  more  sub- 
stantial than  that. 

These  all-engrossing  reflections  were  interrupted  by 
the  entrance  of  Miss  Barton,  who,  on  observing  her 
friend's  troubled  face,  grasped  her  hand,  whispering 
hurriedly : 

"  Insolent  Gaul !  I  knew  how  it  would  be.  I  missed 
liim  from  the  drawing-room,  and  came  to  warn  you,  but 
he  was  beforehand  with  me*  I  was  in  such  dread  that 
^me  of  the  others  might  come  up,  which  /^-^  *^  * 


300  THE   mVAL   VOLUNTEEKS;    OK, 

would  have  suited  his  purpose  well,  and  did  my  best  to 
prevent  it.  How  smooth  he  is,  with  his  iron  liand 
gloved  in  velve|.  Be  on  your  guard  ;  take  every  pre- 
caution to  pi-event  a  second  encounter  like  this ;  pro- 
mise me  that,  Lucy." 

The  latter  was  spared  the  necessity  of  reply  by  the 
announcement — "  Mr.  Carnthers'  carriage  waiting!" 

The  drive  home  was  a  silent  one. 

Mr.  Caruthers,  who  was  weary  ot  the  crowd,  the  light, 
the  music,  the  mirth  lie  had  not  enjoyed,  accounted  for 
his  wife's  unusual  taciturnity  by  supposing  that  she  was 
as  weary  as  himself.  When  she  ofiered  to  read  aloud 
to  him  anything  he  might  wish  to  hear,  he  declined  the 
offer;  and  insisted,  witii  kindly  authority,  on  her  im- 
mediately seeking  needed  rest.  This  very  consideration 
for  her  comfort  smote  her  as  an  unmerited  return  for 
the  concealment  and  tacit  deceit  she  was  practising  to- 
ward him. 

It  was  long  before  she  slept.  From  her  first  light 
slumber  she  was  awakened  by  an  appalling  dream.  She 
was  standing  on  the  verge  of  a  frightful  precipice  over 
Avliose  beetling  brow  some  demoniac  power  was  impel- 
ling her  with  resistless  but  subtle,  magic  power ;  wtiile 
Mr.  Caruthers,  who  with  ditiiculty  maintained  his  foot- 
hold on  a  jutting  crag  at  her  side,  in  striving  to  hold 
out  to  her  a  helping  hand,  was  momentarily  in  danger 
of  being  dashed  upon  the  sharp  and  jagged  rocks  plainly 
discernible  in  the  yawning  chasm  scores  of  feet  beneath 
them.  She  awoke  with  a  cry  of  affright,  and  so  vivid 
was  the  sense  of  reality  inspired  by  the  dream,  that  it 
was  with  a  strong  feeling  of  relief  that  she  assui-ed  her- 
self there  was  no  occasion  for  her  groundless  terrors. 
But  was  there  no  occasion  ?  As  the  occurrences  of  an 
earlier  portion  of  the  night  crowded  back  upon  her  me- 
mory, she  could  not  answer  this  self-asked  question  in 
the  negative. 

ilestless,  apprehensive,  a  prey  to  haaTowing  doubts 


THIS  ISUACK  PLFME  EIFLES.  301 

not  nnmingled  with  compunctions  misgivings,  she  rose, 
and  in  wrapper  and  slippers,  paced  to  and  fro  with  com- 
pressed lips  and  contracted  brow.  Tears  and  sobs  came 
at  last  to  her  relief,  and  groping  her  way  with  blinded 
eyes,  she  stumbled  against  a  chair  and  overturned  it. 

"  \yhat  does  ail  you,  Lucy  ?  Why  did  you  cry  out 
in  your  sleep  ?" 

'*  I  had  a  bad  di'eam,  Mr.  Caruthers." 

*'  But  you  are  not  dreaming  now.  What  are  you 
poking  about  there  in  the  dark  for?" 

"  I  am  feeling  very  miserable,"  she  replied,  in  con- 
fusion, endeavoring  to  suppress  all  tokens  of  emotion. 

"  You  are  not  quite  as  strong  as  you  once  were,  and 
danced  too  long,  is  that  it  ?" 

"  When  I  spoke  of  feeling  miserably,  I  did  not  mean 
that  I  was  ill." 

^'  But  you  must  be,  or  you  wouldn't  take  on  in  this 
way ;  for  you  are  not  given  to  being  hysterical,  or  to 
giving  way,  like  some  high-strung  women,  to  attacks  of 
nervousness  that  I  never  could  have  patience  with. 
You  were  gay  as  a  lark  before  we  went  to  the  party ; 
something  must  have  gone  wrong  there,  what  was  it  ?" 

She  was  utterly  at  a  loss  for  a  reply. 

*'  Now  I  think  of  it,"  he  resumed  ;  "  I  see  what  it  is 
you  are  brooding  over,  and  giving  yourself  all  this 
needless  trouble  about.  You  can  hide  nothing  from 
me." 

He  paused  an  instant,  and  she  waited  breathlessly  for 
him  to  proceed. 

"The  fact  is,  Lucy,  you  women,  to  say  nothing  of 
thin-skinned  men,  are  so  over-and-above  sensitive,  that 
you  fret  your  hearts  out  about  trifles  that  aren't  worth 
the  breath  they  cost  to  mention  ;  there  was  young 
Sharp,  who  had  his  nose  put  out  of  joint  for  the  whole 
evening,  because,  having  set  up  for  a  wit  on  a  small 
capital,  Lily  Barton  took  no  notiL;e  of  a  very  passable 


302  THE  RIVAL  VOLUNTEEES  ;  OB, 

joke  of  his,  for  the  sole  reason  that  she  was  all  eyes  and 
ears  for  somebody  else ;  and  here  are  you,  who,  I  did  think, 
had  more  sense,  acting  in  the  high  tragedy  line,  because 
that  high-in-the-instep  sister  of  mine  turns  you  the  cold 
shoulder.  If  I  don't  care  a  straw  for  her  condescend- 
ing airs,  why  should  you  ?  AVe  can  do  without  her  as 
l(^ng  as  she  can  do  without  us.  I  shall  not  lose  any 
sleep  on  account  of  her  absence,  if  you'll  only  learn  not 
to  mind  it,  and  be  bright  and  cheerful  as  you  have  been, 
making  my  home  the  pleasantest  place  in  the  world 
for  me." 

His  hearty,  self-confident  tones  subdued  her  agitation, 
and  restored  to  her  a  tolerable  degree  of  composure. 
She  drew  a  stool  to  the  side  of  the  low  French  bedstead, 
and  seating  herself,  leaned  her  throbbing  head  on  his 
strong,  broad  shoulder. 

''  I  have  had  more  than  you  think  to  trouble  me 
to-night,  Iviiby,  and  I  prize  your  kind  words  more 
deeply  than  you  are  aware.  Whatever  happens,  or 
whatever  others  may  say  of  me,  you  will  not  turn 
against  me  or  bear  me  in  other  than  kindly  and  charita- 
ble remembrance." 

*'  I  wish  you  knew  my  heart,  Lucy,  and  then  you 
would  know  that  my  constant  study  is  for  your  good  as 
much  as  for  my  own  ;  that  every  plan  of  mine  includes 
you  as  well  as  myself;  and  you  would  rest  secure  in  my 
regard,  not  taking  molehills  for  mountains  as  you  do 
now." 

He  proved  the  sincerity  of  his  conviction  that  her 
troubles  were  of  the  molehill  stamp,  by  resigning  him- 
self, with  brief  delay,  to  the  soothing  embrace  of  the 
balmy  god.  Calm  and  peaceful  his  slumber;  but 
neither  calmness  nor  peace  came  to  solace  the  restless 
watcher  who  at  his  side  kept  sleepless  vigiL 


THE  BLACK  PLTJSTE  EITLES.  :  303 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   CLANDESTINE   INTERVIEW. 

Punctually  at  the  appointed  liour,  Lucy  was  in  the 
shrubberied  walk,  according  to  agreement ;  M.  Meurice 
was  also  punctual. 

"  Is  Meester  Caruthers  at  home !"  was  Monsieur's 
first  question. 

"]N'o,"  was  the  repl j  ;  ''he  dines  at  Delmarq's  with 
a  customer  wliom  he  would  not  bring  home  with  him 
on  account  of  mj  severe  headache." 

"Uxorious;  very  good.  Around  your  finger  very 
little  yon  shall  wind  him  while  the  muon  lasts  ;  for  my 
benefit,  too ;  for  my  benefit,  I  make  oath.  I  of  it  am  a 
great  deal  much  please." 

He  looked  at  her  fixedly  to  mark  the  efi'ect  of  his 
words. 

She  was  calm,  with  firm  self-repression ;  her  face 
betrayed  nothing  of  her  thought. 

"  I  do  not  yet  comprehend  the  nature  of  your 
demands  ;  when  I  do  so,  I  can  decide  whetlier  to  accept 
or  reject  them." 

"  Diahle  ! — thousand  pardons — the  decision,  it  with 
you  rests  not.  I  have  decide  already ;  it  is  for  you  to 
submit  without  condition.     Comprehend  you  now  ?" 

"  I  may  be  able  to  do  so  when  you  explain  to  me 
what  it  is  you  require." 

Her  cool  imperturbability  surprised  and  slightly  dis- 
concerted him.  A  more  subtle  gleam  came  to  his  eye, 
and  his  manner  assumed  a  more  wary  alertness. 

"  Of  which  would  Madame  be  first  informed,  of  the 
concessions  I  demand  as  the  price  of  my  silence,  or  of 


304'  THE  RITAL  VOLUNTEERS  ;   OB, 

the  claim  that  gives  me  the  power  to  exact  such  con- 
cessions ?" 

"  Your  demands  first ;  let  me  know  the  worst  I  have 
to  dread.'' 

"  1  have  liad  of  the  misfortune  to  contract  debts  in 
anticipation  of  a  contiriirency  which  did  continge  never. 
Kot  to  myself  was  the  fault.  On  whom  it  does  belong 
let  it  faU.  But  to  mv  muttons.  Tliis  indebtedness  must 
have  of  the  cancel ment  sure  and  speedy.  Without  delay 
immediate,  the  means  you  must  procure.  A  thousand 
francs,  scarcely  a  couple  of  beggarly  hundreds  in  your 
sordid  currency  decimal,  is  what  you  shall  procure  for 
me  this  hour." 

*'  Impossible;  I  have  not  that  amount  at  my  disposal, 
and  even  if  I  had  " 

"There  is  no  such  word  as  impossible  when  I  say 
5Aa7,"  he  almost  fiercely  interposed.  "  I  must  have  of 
the  money  or  of  its  equivalent.  There  is  Madame's 
jewelry." 

"I  will  not  part  with  it.     I  see  no  reason  for  doing 

60." 

"  Then  of  the  reason  I  shall  make  you  to  see ;  through 
compulsion,  force  you  my  claim  to  recognize.  Attend, 
it  is  the  claim  of  a  husband  over  his  lawfully  wedded 
wife." 

"I  deny  the  claim.  Tliis  is  not  the  first  time  you 
have  tried  to  dupe  me  with  false  words  and  treacherous 
arts.  Thanks  to  your  precepts  and  example,  I  am  older 
in  worldly  wisdom  than  I  was  when  first  I  gave  you  my 
confidence — a  confidence  withdrawn  forever.  If  ex- 
perience has  been  a  harsh  teacher,  it  has  not  been 
a  profitless  one  to  me.  I  will  take  nothing  you  say  on 
trust." 

"  Yery  wisely  resolved,  most  sapient  skeptic.  I  do 
not  contradict ;  I  prove." 

He  handed  her  a  slip  of  paper,  and  she  changed  color 


THE   BLACK   PLUMB  EIFLES.  SQ5 

on  examining  the  same.  It  was,  with  the  exception  of 
the  groom's  and  one  other  name,  very  nearlv  an  exact 
counterpart  of  the  marriage  certificate  Mr/ Carnthers 
had  phiyfuUj  insisted  on  her  examining,  and  was  evi- 
cently  a  genuine  document. 

"  Kame  any  other  proofs  you  may  require,  and  of 
tnem  you  shall  have  all." 

"Prove  that  it  was  a  regularly  ordained  clergyman 
who  wrote  this  certificate,  and  who  performed  the  cere- 
mony which  you  know,  as  well  as  I,  was  not  bindino-  in 
law."  ^ 

Monsieur  shrugged  his  shoulders,  with  a  complacent 
smile. 

"I  will  not  argue  the  point ;  it  has  of  the  consequence 
lar  too  httle.  What  imports  it  so  long  as  I  have  of  the 
proof  abundant  that  the  itinerant  priest  was  a  Justice 
ot  the  Peace,  regularly  appointed  in  this  countv,  and  his 
term  of  appointment  as  yet  unexpired." 

Lucy's  face  whitened  to  the  very  lips. 

"  Can  such  an  official  take  the  place  of  a  clero-yman 
on  such  an  occasion?" 

Without  a  word.  Monsieur  took  from  his  pocket  a 
soiall  volume,  holding  it  so  that  she  could  read  from  the 
title  page  :  '-  Eevised  Statutes  of  this  Commonwealth." 
Tui-ning  to  a  chapter  headed  "  Marriaije  and  the  Solem- 
nization thereof,"  he  directed  her  attemion  to  the  follow- 
ing question  and  reply : 

"  By  w4iom  may  marriages  be  solemnized  ?" 

"  By  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  within  his  county,  or  by 
an  ordained  minister  of  the  gospel  throughout  the 
State." 

"I  have  only  your  word  for  it  that  this  Mr.  Wither- 
spoon,  or  whatever  he  calls  himself,  is  a  regularly  ap- 
pointed Justice  of  the  Peace,"  she  persisted,  still  ani- 
mated by  a  hopeful  degree  of  incredulity. 

"Ah,  faithless  fair;  nothing  wilt  believe  without  the 


306  THE   RIVAL   TOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

evidence  dual  that  the  doubting  apostles  of  law  do  insist  on  ? 
You  sliall  no  longer  have  for  the  doubt  one  suspicion  of 
cxciiso.  If  you  wrongfully  believe  not  the  word  of  my- 
self, the  word  sacred  of  one  of  your  sect  you  shall  have. 
He  stops  with  me  all  the  days  at  the  Hotel  Ironside. 
He  has  the  house  of  himself  neighboring  that  of  Meester 
AVitherspoon,  whom  he  knows  always  since  he  is  one 
small  boy.  Come  with  me,  and  your  own  cars  sliall 
listen  to  the  testimony  corroborative  of  a  person  in  holy 
orders,  very  devout." 

This  proposal,  after  some  persuasion  on  his  part,  she 
finally  acquiesced  in,  and  accompanied  him  to  the  hotel 
already  mentioned. 

After  leaving  her  for  a  few  minutes  alone  in  a  private 
parlor,  he  returned,  accompanied  by  a  heavy  featured, 
stolid  looking  man  in  a  home-made  suit  of  kc;rs2y-grey, 
his  knit-yarn  stockings  showing  plainly  above  his  strong 
pe2:2:ed  brosrans.  In  movenien:  he  was  slow^  and  delibe- 
]"ate,  m  manner  soinewhat  ])05itive  and  overbearmg, 
like  one  accusiomed  to  the  submissive  respect  of  his  as- 
sociates, and  in  appearance  sedate  and  eminently  re- 
spectable. 

"  Deacon  Brown,  Mrs.  Caruthers,"  carelessly  announced 
M.  Meurice. 

Lucy  hesitated  at  thought  of  addressing  a  stranger  ©n 
matvcrs  of  vital  moment  to  herself.  Monsieur,  with 
ready  tact,  paved  for  her  the  way  to  such  address. 

"  AH  the  facts  you  can  inform  this  lady.  Deacon,  of 
this  neighbor  of  yourself,  Witherspoon,  with  whom  I 
have  had  of  the  dealings  will  be  to  her  of  interest,  and 
to  me  of  the  obligation  for  to  requite." 

"  Wal,  so  I  reckoned  by  a  word  you  dropped  in  the 
bed-room  up-stairs.  I've  knowed  him  ever  since  he  was 
a  little  shaver  fishin'  for  pollywogs  with  a  crooked  pin 
baited  with  a  bug,  and  I  can't  say  as  I  ever  seed  much 
harm  in  the  chap,  though  he  might  have  been  a  trifle 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  KIFLES.  307 

wild  in  his  joiin.ojer  days,  but  turned  out  likely  enongli 
"svlien  he  growed  up,  and  went  to  meetin'  regular,  and 
was  a  tonguey  man,  always  ready  to  hold  forth  at  con- 
ference meetings;  and  if  our  pulpit  didn't  happen  to  be 
suj)plied,  not  a  man  anywhere  round  could  hll  it  to  bet- 
ter edification  than  he." 

"  Did  he  hold  any  public  ofiice  when  the  house  of  him- 
self neighbored  your  own,"  adroitly  queried  Monsieur.' 

"  I  disremember,  and  should  say  he  didn't,  leastways 
nothing  more  than  a  Field  driver — I  know  he  was  that, 
for  he  23ut  as  likely  a  span  of  shotes  as  I  ever  raised  in 
the  pound — or  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  I  know  he 
was  that,  because  he  married  Jake  Stilts  to  Patience  Lit- 
tle ;  and  though  they  was  awful  incompatible,  and  always 
having  spats,  she  a-threatening  to  drown  herself,  and  he 
a-thinking  it  wasn't  a  bad  idee,  they  had  to  tough  it  out 
the  best  Avay  they  conld,  for  they  was  as  safely  yoked  as 
though  a  mhiister  had  tied  the  knot." 

"Have  you  of  the  proof  sufficient?"  asked  M. 
Meurice. 

Lucy  replied  by  rising  to  leave. 

"  Hold  on  a  bit,"  said  the  Deacon,  "  I  believe  I've 
got  an  affidavit  swore  to  before  the  Justice ;  that  will 
tell  the  story.  ISTo,  it  is  up-stairs  in  my  great  coat 
pocket ;  I'll  be  back  in  a  jiffy." 

He  left  the  room,  returning,  after  a  few  minutes* 
absence,  with  a  plethoric  wallet  in  his  hand,  from  which, 
after  considerable  fumbling,  he  drew  a  paper  worn  and 
creased,  and  unfolding  handed  it  to  Lucy,  who,  after  a 
glance  at  its  contents,  read  carefully  the  concluding 
lines,  which  ran  as  follows  : 

"  Sworn  to  before  me,  this  20th  day  of  September, 
1860. 

"  Abednego  Witherspoon,  Justice  of  the  Peace^'* 

"  "Was  he  your  neighbor  so  lately  as  1860  ?" 


308  THE  EivAL  volunteers;  or, 

"  He  was,  Marm,  excepting  wlien  he  went  down  river 
once  in  «'i  wliile  on  a  trading  vv'ge.*' 

Lncy  turned  quickly  to  M.  Meuricc. 

*'  Can  you  tell  me,  Monsieur,  Avhetlicr  Mr.  Witber- 
spoon  has  more  than  one  alias  to  his  name  ?" 

"  Ah,  then  Madame  has  heard  of  this  aifair  so  dolo- 
rous unfortunate  ;  of  my  ^^oor  friend's  arrest  on  a  cliargc 
fraudulent,  false  ;  of  his  being  dragged  off  amongst  the 
vile  contrites  and  riffraff  miserables.  Should  his  own 
name,  that  had  of  the  esteem,  be  pollute  by  sounding 
with  that  of  this  rabble  and  scumf  The  law  clutched 
him,  his  name  it  could  not  clutch.  He  took  the  only 
wav  of  savins:  that  from  disorrace  bv  makinsr  another  do 
duty  in  its  stead.  If  you  have  of  the  information  sum- 
cient,  we  will  make  our  adieux  to  tliis  worthy  man  with 
thousand  thanks  and  greatly  oblige." 

She  could  hear  the  loud  beating  of  her  own  heart  as 
she  passed  down  the  steps  of  the  hotel  to  the  side-walk. 

'^  My  faith,  but  incredulity  you  no  longer  can  con- 
serve ;  two  responsible  witnesses  not  of  testimony  con- 
flicting, Avhat  more  oK  the  proof  can  you  require  ?" 

"  If  you  are  deceiving  me,  M.  Meurice,  it  is  the  cruel- 
lest deed  of  your  life." 

"  If  Madame  still  inclines  to  doubt,  I  scorn  further  to 
protest ;  if  my  word  of  honor  is  not  veritable  to  be 
believed,  to  make  oath  is  nothing  better." 

She  turned  toward  him,  a  look  of  piteous  appeal  on 
her  white  and  troubled  face. 

To  this  mute  appeal  he  replied, 

"  There  is  no  use  of  cpiarrelling  with  the  fate  which 
alone  has  made  you  miserable.  Where  you  cannot 
resist  with  success,  submit  v\'irhout  demur;  that  has  of 
the  true  philosophy.  Meester  Caruthers  to  you  can 
deny  nothing  ;  why  should  I  be  subject  to  those  disa- 
greeables, the  creditor's  importune,  when  you  so  easy 
shall  release  me  from  such  beastly  insolence  ?" 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  309 

"  Do  not  distress  me  any  more  to-dav.  I  am  half 
crazed  already.     I  must  have  time  to  think." 

"  Yon  of  it  shall  have  ample.  At  what  hour  do  you 
breakfast  ?" 

''  At  eight." 

"  Yery  good  ;  one  hour  earlier  I  will  met  you  in  the 
garden.  Attend  my  coming ;  I  am  not  patient  of  the 
delay." 

She  left  him  without  reply. 

^' Peste !"  he  mentally  ejaculated;  "she  veritably 
thought  to  baffle  and  foil  one  as  thoroughly  versed  as  my- 
self in  the  wiles  and  the  guiles,  the  crooks  and  the  turns 
of  the  finesse  feminine,  intricate.  Fancied,  did  she,  that  I 
would  relinquish  of  the  advantages,  like  one  donkey 
despicable,  at  a  pleading  look  from  one  whose  beauty  is 
only  so-so ;  one  without  style,  without  manner,  of  cul- 
ture little,  and  of  spirit  less.  By  concealing  from  her 
husband,  as  she  may  continue  to  call  him  if  these  spirits 
importune  are  laid  to  rest,  these  planned  interviews 
clandestine,  she  has  given  me  the  wedge  to  effect  the 
separation  of  themselves ;  for  if  she  threatens  to  expose 
me  to  him,  I  against  herself  can  turn  the  threat.  As 
diplomat^  she  counts  for  nothing.  If  she  dare  me  too 
far,  I  plan  a  surprise,  one  grand  tableau  mvant  j  in 
the  foreground  frantic  lover,,  weeping  wife  ;  in  the 
background,  jealous  husband,  gaping  servants,  gather- 
ing crowd.  Faith  of  Meurice,  but  it  is  inimitable ! 
One  hint  of  it  to  Madame  shall  be  enough.  Fairly 
caged,  fair  dame.  A  wealthy  merchant  shall  be  my 
banker.  Let  me  see ;  how  large  a  sum  shall  be  placed 
to  my  credit  ?  "What  is  woman  good  for  but  to  serve 
us  ?  For  what  sole  purpose  was  she  created  but  to  sub- 
serve the  interests  of  man,  while  he  of  Godlike  front  has 
of  the  interests  to  subserve  multifarious?  I  am  of  my 
being  fuMlling  the  purpose  while  forcing  her  thus  to  ful- 
fill the  same.      Yive  la  dijplomaiieP 


310  THE  RIVAL   VOLUirrEEES;   OE, 

Sadly  the  victim  of  this  diplomacy  wended  her  way 
homeward,  going  directly  to  her  sleeping-room  on  reach- 
ing the  house.  As  she  sat  with  bowed  liead,  searching 
in  her  own  mind  for  some  mode  of  extrication  from  the 
strange  and  perilous  position  in  which  she  found  her- 
self, the  deepening  lines  on  her  brow,  and  the  painful 
compression  of  lier  lips,  showed  that  she  sought  in  vain 
for  any  satisfactory  solution  of  the  problem  set  her  to 
solve.  Slie  had  done  all  she  could,  unaided,  to  test  the 
authenticity  of  the  proofs  M.  Meurice  had  brought  for- 
ward to  establish  the  legality  of  their  marriage.  The 
idea  of  consulting  Lawyer  Auverne  presented  itself,  but 
was  quickly  set  aside  ;  for  she  felt  that  in  the  present 
case  she  could  not  count  on  the  lawyer's  silence,  as  every 
consideration  of  friendship  and  fair  dealing  would  lead 
him  to  reveal  the  whole  affair  to  Mr.  Caruthers,  and 
what  might  follow  she  shuddered  to  even  conjecture. 
It  is  through  me,  she  thought,  that  comes  his  great 
danger.  If  I  was  out  of  the'way  he  would  be  safe.  I 
owe  him  some  reparation  for  the  grievous  wrong  I  once 
gave  him  in  return  for  his  love  and  trust ;  I  owe  him 
some  requital  for  the  generous  kindness  that  has  never 
let  me  know  a  want.  How  little  M.  Meurice  knows  of 
my  real  character  if  he  supposes  I  would  remain  here 
on  his  terms.  It  would  be  bigamy,  a  criminal  offence. 
Neither  will  I  yield  myself  to  his  guidance,  even  though 
it  were  ten  times  sanctioned  by  law ;  I  see  too  plainly 
where  it  would  lead.  I  would  as  soon  brave  plague 
and  pestilence  as  the  pollution  of  his  presence. 

She  went  slowly  down  to  the  conservatory,  sighing 
drearily  as  she  caught  sight  of  a  showy  exotic,  with  its 
gorgeous  petals  and  its  hidden  thorns.  Then,  with  a 
softening  glance,  her  eye  ran  over  many-hued  roses, 
clustering  oleanders,  fragrant  heath  and  orange  bloom  ; 
stalks  close  strung  with  blue  and  purple  bells,  or  bear- 
ing the  snow-white  chalices  of  perfumed  lily-cups — ran 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  RIFLES.  311 

over  tliem  longingly  and  lingeringlv,  as  one  looks  on 
cherished  favorites  for  the  last  time.  This  was  the  only 
leave-taking  with  living  creature  that  she  could  permit 
herself. 

Back  once  more  to  her  room  she  made  her  way. 
Taking  froQi  the  closet  a  small  enamelled  travelling-bag, 
die  folded  and  placed  therein  a  couple  of  the  plainest 
dresses  in  her  possession,  together  with  a  few  additional 
articles  of  wearing  apparel,  and  almost  the  entire  con- 
tents of  her  work-box.  From  the  satin  wood  box  con- 
taining her  jewelry  she  took  only  the  miniature  of 
which  we  have  before  had  occasion  to  speak,  in  its 
costly  setting  of  gold  and  pearls.  The  chain  attached 
to  the  miniature  she  had  already  thrown  over  her  head, 
when,  after  a  moment's  pause  for  reflection,  she  as 
quickly  removed  it.  It  might  prove  the  means  of  her 
detection,  and  she  dared  not  take  it.  Of  the  original 
she  could  take  no  leave ;  but  upon  the  pictured  face  her 
tears  rained  fast  as  she  murmured  over  it  tender  words 
of  parting,  and  a  final  '•  God  bless  you — Farewell !" 

Half  blind  with  weeping,  she  nevertheless  counted 
accurately  the  contents  of  her  purse,  which  she  found 
to  contain  a  larger  sum  than  she  had  expected,  and 
knew  whose  generous  hand  had  added  by  stealth  to  its 
store. 

Thus  furnished  with  the  means  of  providing  for  her 
immediate  needs,  she  fled  in  the  deepening  shades  of 
eventide — fled  from  her  warmest  and  truest  friend,  see- 
ing no  other  safe  and  justifiable  course  to  pursue  in  the 
cruel  extremity  to  which  she  had  been  reduced. 

Mr.  Caruthers,  utterly  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his 
wife's  sudden  and  inexplicable  disappearance,  left  no 
means  untried  to  trace  her  flight ;  but  despite  liis  eflbrts, 
aided  by  those  of  the  police,  whom  he  had  summoned 
to  his  assistance,  weeks  went  by  and  the  mystery  was 
not  cleared  up. 


312  THE  EivAL  volunteers;  or, 

CHAPTER  XX. 

REJECTED     PROPOSALS. 

Lucy  Sears,  or  rather  Lucy  Searls,  as  she  had  callei 
herself  since  interpolating  a  single  letter  in  her  maiden 
name,  plied  her  needle  industriously  in  the  low-ceiled 
basement  room  that  had  become  the  scene  of  her  la- 
bors for  a  livelihood.  It  was  not  yet  dusk  in  broader, 
lighter  thoroughfares ;  but  in  this  dark  and  narrow  alley 
she  was  obliged  to  sit  near,  and  bend  toward,  the  win- 
dow pane  to  obtain  the  light  needful  for  the  prosecution 
of^  her  task.  The  room  was  a  front  one,  but  its  single 
window  was  mostly  below  the  scant  strip  of  sidewalk, 
so  that  there  was  little  temptation  to  look  forth  at  a 
prospect  comprising  dirty  boots  and  leggings,  the  pro- 
perty of  passing  pedestrians,  or  a  scrap  of  dingy  brick 
wall,  the  vested  right  of  the  owner  of  the  tenement 
across  the  way. 

Lucy's  companion  is  scarcely  a  proper  subject  for  de- 
scription, presenting  no  salient  points  for  the  narrator 
to  seize.  ^  Kshe  had  ever  had  in  her  composition  any- 
thing brighter  than  neutral  tints  to  boast,  they  had  long 
since  been  washed  out  of  it  by  a  life  of  uncheered,  unva- 
ried and  laborious  monotony.  She  was  considerably 
past  middle  life,  very  deaf,  and  very  taciturn.  If  she 
had  likes  and  dislikes,  preferences  or  aversions,  she  never 
expressed  them ;  but  what  she  had  to  do,  set  herself 
about  with  a  dull,  mechanical  persistency,  such  as  is 
sometimes  manifested  by  a  broken-down  convict  on  a 
creaking  treadmill.  As  Lucy  looked  at  Miss  ]\[oodey's 
face,  so  joyless,  so  impassive,  so  unexpectant,  she  won- 
dered if  she  had  ever  learned  individually  the  full  mean- 
ing of  the  words  recreation  and  sympathy.     It  was  not 


THE    BLACK   PLTJME   RIFLES.  313 

vritliont  a  vague  feeling  of  dread  and  oppression  that 
the  younger  "woman  looked  forward  to  the  prospect  of 
her  own  lite  becoming  a  hopeless  blank  like  that  of  the 
elder. 

From  the  entry  above  came  harsh,  discordant  sonnds 
from  children  wrangling  over  a  disputed  toy  ;  for,  small 
as  the  house  was,  it  was  occupied  l)y  two  families. 

A  man's  step  was  heard  in  the  diminutive  basement- 
hall  outside.  Miss  Moodey  rose  w^ithout  the  slightest 
change  of  expression  on  lier  cold  and  rigid  face,  and 
passed  into  the  adjoining  kitchen  to  commence  prepara- 
tions for  tea. 

The  man  came  in — a  man  with  a  large,  loosely-knit 
frame;  a  broad,  thick  hand  with  swollen  joints ;  an 
awlvward,  shambling  gait ;  coarsely  cut  features,  with  a 
weak,  receding  chin  ;  lips  full  but  not  closing  iirmly  ; 
and  pale  grey  eyes,  the  white  greatly  predominating 
over  the  color  of  the  iris,  which  opened  and  shut  with 
much  deliberation.  For  good  or  for  evil,  he  was  evi- 
dently not  one  of  the  swift  v/orkers  in  this  hurrying 
world. 

''  You  are  home  early  to-night,  Mr.  Moodey,'-  Lucy 
remaiked,  her  busy  lingers  scarcely  pausing  in  their 
work. 

^'  A  trifle  earlier  than  common,"  he  slowly  enunciated, 
after  duly  deliberating  his  reply.  "  I  shut  up  early ; 
we  all  on  us  did,  on  account  of  the  funeral  of  an  officer 
— one  of  the  Black  Plumes." 

Lucv  turned  pale,  and  her  nimble  finsiers  o'rew  sud- 
denly  stiU. 

"  Did  you  learn  the  officer's  name  ?" 

*'  In  course  I  did  ;  it  was  in  everybody's  mouth." 

"  Be  so  kind  as  to  tell  me  what  it  was." 

"  Lieutenaivt  Weldon." 

A  sigh  of  relief  unconsciously  escaped  her ;  and  she 
bent  her  eyes  once  more  on  the  long  strip  of  plain  cash- 

14 


314  THE    RIVAL    VOLUMT£EKS  ;    OR, 

mere  ^vbicli  she  was  surrounding  with  a  figured  border- 
ing. 

She  was  much  changed,  even  more  in  manner  than 
in  looks.  The  pretty  affected  ways  and  sprightly  co- 
quettish air5  wherewith  she  had  once  sought  to  charm, 
had  now  given  place  to  a  quiet,  subdued,\vomanly  de- 
meanor that  well  became  her;  no  longer  striving  to  at- 
tract, she  had  grown  doubly  attractive. 

**  It  is  too  dark  to  sew  now  ;  you  will  only  strain  your 
eyes.  Put  by  your  work  till  the  lamp  comes  in,"  good- 
naturedly  remonstrated  Mr.  Moodey. 

"  I  will  go  for  the  lamp  myself." 

*'  No  ;  it  will  be  here  soon  enough.  Do  take  time  to 
breathe ;  it  is  enough  to  tire  a  person  to  death  to  be 
always  in  such  a  hurry  as  you  are." 

*'  You  forget  that  with  all  my  hurrying  I  can  little 
more  than  pay  my  way." 

"There  ain't  no  occasion  for  you  any  more  than  pay- 
ing your  way,  as  I  can  see." 

'*  If  I  should  at  any  time  be  unable  to  get  work,  I 
should  be  thankful  then  that  I  had  made  hay  while  the 
sun  shone." 

"  Oh,  I'll  look  out  for  that ;  you  shall  have  work 
enough,  either  from  my  shop  or  somebody  else's." 

"  Bat  I  might  lose  my  health,  you  know,  and  be  un- 
able to  work  on  that  account." 

"  Wal,  in  case  of  sickness  you  don't  suppose  that 
I'm  the  man  to  turn  a  woman  out  of  house  and  home, 
whether  she  could  pay  her  board  or  whether  she  couldn't 
• — not  by  a  long  chalk.  I  like  to  have  you  here.  I 
don't  have  to  hollo  at  you  as  I  do  at  Gelly  " — his  sis- 
ter's unabreviated  name  was  Angelica — "  and  you 
don't  never  fret  and  stew  on  account  of  its  being  lone- 
some here,  as  one  of  your  gad-about  highflyers  would 
be  sure  to  do.  You  ain't  one  of  them  kind,  nor  no- 
thing like  it.      You  are  of  the  kind  that  attends  to 


THE   BLACK   PLUifE   RIFLES.  315 

their  own  affairs,  and  lets  other  folkses  alone ;  and 
they  are  always  found  out,  because  they  are  wortli 
the  finding.  ]f  a  woman  is  only  worth  the  finding,  she 
can't  be  hid  so  close  but  she'll  be  found,  and  by  the 
right  one,  too." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so  ?"  ashed  Lucy,  a  little 
startled  by  this  positiv^eness  of  assertion. 

"  True  as  I  am  sitting  in  this  chair,"  he  gravely  as- 
severated. "  It  ain't  the  girl  that  spins  the  most  street 
yarn,  and  is  forever  showin'  ofi"  in  a  crowd,  that  gets 
married  the  soonest.  There  was  Judith  Foss,  always 
upon  the  go,  and  Judith  Foss  will  be  cut  on  her  grave- 
stone, I've  no  doubt.  Then  again,  there  was  Almiry 
Hunt,  who  was  brung  up  in  a  place  there  wan't  no 
road  to  ;  but,  bless  you,  that  didn't  make  no  difference; 
her  feller  come  down  stream  in  a  wherry  ;  got  snag- 
ged ;  had  to  call  on  Ben  Hunt  to  help  him  out  of 
the  fix  ;  got  a  sight  of  Almirj  wading  in  the  pond 
after  duck's  eggs ;  and  struck  up  a  bargain  with  her 
right  straight  off  the  reel.  She  was  a  saving,  thrifty 
home  body  ;  them's  the  kind  for  my  money." 

Highly  satisfied  with  this  labored  exposition  of  his 
views  on  a  subject  by  which,  in  bachelor  meditations,  he 
had  been  considerably  exercised,  Mr.  Moodey,  assuming 
an  attitude  of  comfortable  negligence,  sat  complacently 
watching  the  deft  fii-^ers  that  once  more  busied  them- 
selves with  needlework.  Absorbed  in  her  own  thoughts, 
Lucy  had  nearly  forgotten  the  presence  of  her  observer, 
when  he  remarked,  with  emphasis : 

''  You  be  awful  spry  ;  that's  a  fact." 

"It  is  well  for  me  that  I  am  so,"  she  quietly  rejoined. 

"  Then  you  think  a  nimble  sixpence  is  better  than  a 
slow  shilling;  but  a  body  is  richer  for  having  them 
both  in  these  times,  when  a  man  is  reckoned  up  accord- 
ing to  his  money  value  ;  don't  you  see  ?" 

Lucy  replied  by  an  amiable  affirmative  ;  though  not 


816  THE   TITVXL  VOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

catching,  in  the  least,  the  drift  of  his  meaning.  He 
hitched  his  chair  a  little  nearer  lier  own,  so  as  to  speak 
in  a  lower  and  more  confidential  tone. 

"So  you  think,  Miss,  tliat  the  spry  sixpence  might 
put  up  with  tlie  slow  shilling  because  it  was  worth  the 
most ;  is  that  so  ?" 

*'  I  dare  say,  and  glad  of  the  chance,"  she  returned, 
abstractedly,  tired  of  a  conversation  which  had  neither 
point  nor  interest  for  her,  and  wishing  she  could  afford 
a  room  and  a  light  all  to  herself. 

**  I  see  a  young  woman  on  my  way  home,  buying 
some  vilets  and  chamomile  blows,  or  what  looked  like 
'em,  and  she  -seemed  so  tooken  up  with  the  weeds  that 
I  thought  I  would  buy  you  a  few,  there  is  so  little 
worth  looking  at  here,  and  you  don't  never  go  nowhere 
else,"  said  Mr.  Moodey,  with  some  hesitancy  and  embar- 
rassment of  manner.  "  I  went  into  the  shop  where 
they  kept  all  sorts  of  garden  sarce  and  green  herbs 
a-growing.  The  storekeeper  cut  me  off  anything  I 
asked  him  to,  that  was  in  the  flower-pots ;  and  as  true 
as  I'm  alive,  the  feller  had  the  face  to  ask  me  a  dollar 
for  'em.  I  was  so  riled  up  at  the  idee  of  having  made 
Buch  a  blasted  jackanapes  of  myself,  that  I'd  a  great 
mind  to  fire  'em  in  the  feller's  face  and  smash  a  flower- 
pot, to  come  up  with  him.  They  are  out  in  the  entry ; 
you  can  get  'em  if  you  want  'em." 

She  hastened  to  act  on  this  permission,  returning  with 
a  lovely  bouquet  in  her  hand.  She  sat  down  and  ex- 
amined it  with  critical  appreciation,  a  soft  smile  playing 
over  her  lips  as  she  recognized  favorite  after  favorite  of 
the  Oaruthers  conservatory.  The  flowers  were  very- 
welcome  to  her  through  power  of  association;  not  a 
thought  had  she  to  spare  for  the  donor. 

"  1  wish  she  would  look  at  me  like  that,"  thought  the 
neglected  Mr.  Moodey,  as  with  some  vague  purpose  of 
connecting  himself  with  his  gift  in  her  mind,  he  drew 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  317 

his  chair  beside  her  and  attempted  to  describe  the  vari- 
eties composing  his  floral  oitering. 

"Them  yaller  roses  is  the  CMiinv  Sophrony,  so  the 
cliap  I  bought  'em  on  said  ;  and  I  thought  I'd  remem- 
ber the  nauies  o'  purpose  to  tell  yon." 

"  Chinese  safiVona,"  corrected  Lucv  to  herself,  with- 
out a  look  at  the  speaker. 

"  And  that  bunch  of  red  blows,  that  is  full  equal  to  a 
hollyhock  any  day,  is  only  a  highbred  penny  rial ;  an 
edicated  weed,  you  see." 

"  Hybrid  perennial."  she  mentally  corrected. 

"  And  this  that  smells  the  best  of  the  lot,  is  nothing 
but  a  '  darnation  pink,'  the  feller  told  me  so." 

She  did  not  hear  him. 

As  day  after  day  passed  by,  she  grew  more  and  more 
expert  with  her  needle,  and  thought  this  the  reason 
inducing  her  employer  to  trust  her  with  more  elaborate 
and  more  remunerative  species  of  needlework,  enter- 
taining not  the  remotest  suspicion  of  the  fact  that  she 
received  double  the  amount  lor  her  labor  that  he  paid 
others  for  the  same.  Kelieved  from  the  dread  of  find- 
ing herself  unequal  to  the  task  of  earning  her  own  liveli- 
hood, her  brow  was  gradually  clearing  from  the  look 
of  apprehension  it  had  worn,  and  the  faint  color  bright- 
ened in  her  cheek. 

Her  employer  treated  her  with  unvarying  kindness, 
giving  many  a  practical  proof  of  increasing  good-will. 
Her  dresses  were  too  light  and  delicate  for  her  new 
position,  and  he  brought  her  home  a  soft,  brown  Thibet, 
marked  down  much  below  cost,  on  the  plea  that  it  was 
old-fashioned,  and  a  little  shop-worn ;  while  the  shawl 
of  tartan  plaid  in  which  she  occasionally  treated  herself 
to  a  short  walk  in  the  precincts,  between  daylight  and 
dark,  cost  more,  fresh  from  its  makers  loom,  than  when 
it  came  into  her  possession.  For  this  kindness  she 
strove  to  make  suitable  return,  by  standing  between 


318  THE   EIYAL   YOLIj:)n::EERS  ;    OR, 

liim  and  many  a  petty  household  discomfort  to  Tvhich 
he  had  become  too  much  accustomed  to  think  of  reme- 
dying. Xot  worth  noting  down  are  the  trilling  ways 
slie  rook  of  making  licr  jn-esence  agreeably  felt;  he 
only  knew  tliat  his  own  dwelling  was  a  pleasanter  place 
to  stay  at  than  it  had  formerly  been  ;  and  that,  conse- 
quently, he  spent  more  hours  there  than  had  been  his 
wont. 

Previously  to  Lucy's  coming,  he  had  now  and  then 
borrowed  a  newspaper  of  his  tenant  overhead ;  and 
spelled,  by  slow,  laborious  process,  through  a  few  of  its 
more  striking  paragraphs.  'Now  he  rarely  came  in  to 
tea  without  his  evening  paper,  which  she  read  aloud  to 
him,  the  only  drawback  to  his  enjoyment  of  its  con- 
tents being  indicated  by  his  repeated  remonstrance,  "I 
can't  take  in  the  words  so  fast;  they  all  run  together, 
without.  3'ou  keep  each  one  separate  on  its  own  hook  ;  I 
do  wish  yitu  wasn't  quite  so  awful  spry." 

One  evening  he  took  the  unusual  step  of  bringing 
home  a  book,  a  small,  pocket  volume,  exquisitely  bound 
and  gilded.  She  expected  to  be  asked  to  read  it  aloud, 
but  her  expectations  were  not  realized.  Hour  after  hour 
he  sat  poring  over  the  volume  with  an  intensity  of 
application  that  denoted  the  deep  interest  his  studies 
inspired.  Even  his  newspaper  was  forgotten.  Lucy's 
curiosity  was  piqued;  she  resolved  to  improve  the  first 
oiDportunity  for  a  peep  at  his  new  acquisition.  He 
seemed  resolved  to  bame  her  purpose.  Some  one  called 
him  to  the  door,  and  with  him  went  the  book,  his  finger 
between  the  leaves.  He  was  even  obliged  to  leave  the 
house,  but  pocketed  the  v(Jume  before  starting. 

Her  chance  came  at  last.  On  his  return  he  resumed 
his  studies  with  unflagging  zeal.  By  an  adroitly 
planned  glance  over  his  shoulder,  she  caught  this  head- 
ing of  a  chapter,  in  large  capitals :  "  Elegant  forms  of 
marriage  proposals  for  bashful  Bachelors." 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  319 

She  was  mucli  amused  at  her  discovery;  it  seemed 
so  odd  that  a  man  so  inelegant  by  habit  and  choice  as 
JVIr.  Moodev,  should  be  interested*^  in  elegant  forms  of 
any  sort.  Had  she  but  known  the  end  and  aim  of  this 
novel  literary  pursuit,  she  would  have  been  anything 
but  amused  at  it,  as  she  afterwards  learned,  to  her  cost. 

One  afternoon  at  dusk,  as  Lucy  was  folding  up  her 
work,  preparatory  to  her  short  walk.  Miss  Moodey 
being  up-stairs,  her  employer,  having  returned  earlier 
than  was  customary,  entered  the  room  with  an  appear- 
ance of  haste  strongly  at  variance  with  his  usual  delibe- 
rateness  of  movement. 

"Sit  down,  Miss  Searls,  I  have  something  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  say  to  you." 

She  obeyed,  dreading  to  be  informed  of  the  loss  of 
steady  employment,  or  a  reduction  in  its  price. 

To  her  utter  consternation,  he,  with  considerable 
difficulty,  being  somewhat  weak  in  the  knees,  knelt 
before  her  and  propounded  the  following  ominous 
query : 

"Would  the  addresses  of  a  lover  be  asrreeable  to 
you  ?" 

A  quick  ilasli  of  resentment  burnt  on  her  cheek ;  but 
in  an  instant  she  reflected  that  he  was  ignorant  of 
the  cause  that  to  her  made  his  words  seem  like  an  insult. 

"  I  cannot  for  a  moment  listen  to  such  a  proposal, 
Mr.  Moodey ;  I  have  highly  valued  your  kindness,  I 
may  even  go  so  far  as  to  say  your  friendship;  but  I 
cannot  keep  them  on  terms  to  which  it  is  impossible  for 
me  to  accede." 

"  Never  mind  the  terms,  I  won't  be  hard  about  them. 
Hear  me  out,  will  you  ?  I  do  hereby  oiler  you,  without 
the  least  expectation  of  any  money  equivalent,  in  proof 
of  an  attachment  as  adorable— blast  it  all !  where  bo 
I? — to  the  lovely  being  I  hold  of  all  the  earth  most 
adorable,  my  heart  and  " 


$20'  THJ2   EITAL   VOLTTNTEEIIS  ;    OB, 

Liicj  sprang  to  her  feet,  leavinp^  lier  discomfited 
adorer  kneeling  before  an  empty  cliair  as  liis  sister 
entered  the  room.  The  not  over  liglit  step  of  the  Litter, 
Lucy  liad  lieard  on  the  stairs,  and  sprang  aside,  hoping 
to  terminate  a  scene  whose  exposure  couhl  lead  to  noth- 
ing better  than  embarrassment  and  mortification  for  its 
principal  actor.  Mr.  Moodey's  lack  of  agility  rendered 
him  unequal  to  the  occasion.  In  striving  to  rise  hastily, 
lie  grasped  the  leaf  of  a  small  pine  table  to  aid  his 
efforts,  and  said  perverse  article  of  furniture,  being 
probably  under  the  influence  of  one  of  the  spirits 
malign,  tipped  earthward,  administering  to  its  informal 
assailant  a  smart  rap  over  the  head  as  both  fell  to  the 
floor. 

Miss  Angelica,  startled  out  of  her  habitual  taciturnity, 
was  surprised  into  inquiring  the  cause  of  this  strange 
concatenation  of  mischances. 

"  Only  a  broken  table  leg  that  I  can't  mend,"  he  bel- 
lowed in  her  ear,  after  struggling  to  his  feet.  "  Step 
round  the  corner,  and  speak  to  the  old-broken-furniture 
man  to  come  and  repair  it,  will  you  ?*' 

She  started  without  an  added  word. 

Nothing  daunted,  the  would-be  wooer  once  more 
assumed  the  oflensive  by  drawing  his  chair  as  nearly  as 
the  laws  of  space  would  admit  to  that  of  the  reluctant 
object  of  his  devotions. 

"  A  poor  beginning  makes  a  good  ending,"  he  con- 
fidently rem.arked  ;  '*  and  you  must  overlook  what  ain't 
jert  according  to  rule  ;  for  I  never  went  a-courting  in 
all  my  life  before.  You  see,  it  makes  a  feller  feel  kind 
o'  sheepish  jest  at  the  outstart ;  but  the  ice  once  broke, 
a  man  that  ain't  got  much  of  the  gift  of  the  gab,  can 
hoe  his  row  with  the  best  on  'em.  You  jest  consider 
that  the  ice  is  broke,  and  I  shall  be  as  happy  as  a  clam 
at  high  water.  That's  tlie  talk ;  silence  gives  consent. 
You  needn't  £ay  nothing.     I  ruther  like  to  see  a  young 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  niFLES.  321 

damsel  kind  of  offisli ;  it's  a  deal  better  than  to  see  one 
right  on  hand,  and  ready  to  do  more  than  half  the 
sparkmg  herself,  like  that  brassj-faced  Pawlinej  Hotch- 
kiss.  She  took  all  manner  of  roundabout  ways  to  iiggle 
me  into  popping  the  question ;  but  old  birds  am't  caught 
with  chatf;  and  thinks  I  to  myself,  if  I  can't  do  my  own 
courting,  it  can  go  undid." 

"  I  wish  you  would  hear  what  I  have  to  say,  Mr. 
Moodey.  Although  it  would  be  a  pain  to  me  to  hurt 
your  feelings,  and  although  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  go 
away  from  here,  still " 

"  My  stars,  you  ain't  going  away ;  don't  be  scaret 
before  you  are  hurt.  Isow  that  I've  fairly  made  up  my 
mind  to  take  you  for  better  or  worse,  I  don't  want  to 
put  it  off  by  no  manner  of  means.  I  always  count  the 
cost  before  I  start,  but  when  I  do  start,  I  go  ahead  like 
a  house  a-fire.  I'm  ready  to  start  now,  and'  I'm  going 
ahead.  The  fust  thing  I  do  will  be  to  give  the  folks 
overhead  notice  to  quit,  so  that  we  can  have  the  whole 
house  to  ourselves.  I  suppose  that  will  make  Yiles, 
next  door,  who  is  tight  as  the  bark  of  a  tree,  living 
awful  stived  up,  and  letting  every  spare  inch  of  room, 
even  his  cellar-closet,  to  an  apple  and  candy  woman  to 
sleep  in,  think  we  are  mighty  stuck  up  :  but  as  long  as 
I  can  pay  my  honest  debts,  he  is  welcome  to  his 
thoughts  ;  I  shan't  knuckle  under  to  nobody." 

''  Mr.  Moodey.  will  you  please  hear  what  I  have  to 

*'  After  I've  had  my  say  comes  your  turn,  in  course." 
With  a  look  not  wholly  resigned,  she  assumed  an 
attitude  of  civil  attention. 

"  There  is  Gelly,  who  has  grown  rheumatic  and  stiff 
in  the  joints,  and  takes  on  about  having  to  tote  things 
up  and  down  stairs  so  much  ;  she  can  go  out  to  Brother 
Silases'  farm,  where  we  Avas  all  brung  up,  and  where 
they  will  be  right  glad  to  have  her  knit  footings  for  the 

14* 


32^*  th£  kival  volunteers  ;  on, 

farm  hands,  and  look  after  the  young  ones.  Not  but 
that  we  could  git  her  back  liere  if  we  should  ever  want 
lier,  you  know.  Speak  out,  now's  your  time.  Be  as 
perk  as  you  please,  but  don't  go  to  being  contr'j  like  a 
critter  that  won't  haw  nor  gee,  if  you  don't  want  to 
make  me  real  put  out  with  you." 

"  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  offend  you,  after  all  the 
obligations  you  have  placed  me  under  by  furnishing  mo 
w^ith  employment,  and  granting  a  forlorn  outcast,  as  I 
came  to  you,  the  shelter  of  a  home  ;  but " 

"  You  talk  like  a  book.  1  am  glad  you  have  the 
gumption  to  understand  Avhat  a  heap  of  obligations  you 
are  under  to  me.  It  isn't  one  man  in  a  thousand  that 
would  have  lifted  you  out  of  the  gutter,  as  a  body  might 
say,  and  put  you  right  in  the  clover,  as  I  have  did. 
How  could  I  tell  but  what  you'd  make  off  with  the 
spoons  in  my  cupboard,  or  even  my  money-pus,  when 
you  never  brung  me  no  recommendation  whataumdever? 
It  was  odd,  to  say  the  least  on't,  to  see  a  woman  with 
Lands  as  white  as  milk,  and  not  the  sign  of  a  iinger- 
prick  on  ary  finger,  left  to  shift  for  herself,  with  nary  a 
friend  nor  relation  to  sj^eak  a  good  word  for  her.  It 
looked  as  though  she  had  been  used  to  a  good  home ; 
and  if  she  had  been  turned  out  of  it,  who  was  to  blame 
for  it?  That  is  what  most  folks  would  have  asked  in 
my  place;  but  I  kept  mum,  and  didn't  ask  no  questions, 
and  don't  ask  none  now,  only  if  you  wijl  have  me,  and 
that  isn't  hard  to  answer,  I'll  bet  a  copper.  Speak  out, 
for  so  far,  our  talk  has  been  like  the  handle  of  a  jug,  all 
on  one  side." 

"  Mr.  Moodey,  even  if  I  were  not  personally  averse 
to  the  acceptance  of  your  proposals,  which  I  gratefully 
appreciate  as  the  highest  proof  you  can  give  of  con- 
fidence in  my  worth,  however  appearances  may  belie 
me,  still" 

'^  Botheration  1  what  in  thunder  are  you  driving  at  ? 


THE  BLACK   PLTTME  EITLES.  323 

Are  yon  crazj  as  a  loon  to  talk  of  being  averse  to  my 
proposals?    Ain't  you  tooken  mj  meaning?  yit?    Don't 
you  understand  that   I'm    offering  to   make   you  my 
honored  wife  ?-^'ou  that  ain't  got  an  extra  suit  to  your 
back  but  wliat  I've  sold  you  at  less  than  cost— you'that 
aint  tough,  and   can't  no  more  stand  it  to  rouo-h  it 
through   this    shoving,   scrambling   crowd   of    money- 
changers, without  somebody  to  give  you  a  lift  over  the 
steepest  places,   than   a   down-south   wood-lark   could - 
winter  on  our  bare  prairies.     Let  me  tell  you  that  I 
don  t  take  up  with  you.  Jack  at  a  pinch,  because  I  can't 
do    better.     I  know   of  more   than   one  likely  youn^ 
woman  that  would  jump  at  the  chance  of  sayin^^^yes^ 
to   such  a  question  as   I've  give  you   the   chc'nce   to 
answer     There  is  Pawliney  Hotchkiss,  as  tough  as  a 
J^not  and  as  smart  as  a  steel-trap,  if  she  is  ruther  for'ard, 
who  could  do  more  hard  work  in  a  day  than  you  in  a 
week.     There  is  Phebe  Shooks,  too,  with  a  heap  of  tin 
that  would  furnish  up  the  house  tip-top,  and  put  a  new 
tront,  that  it  needs  bad,  to  the  store  ;  to  say  nothino-  of 
Deacon  Barns'  daughter,  and  the  deacon  pop'lar,  and 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church,  and  all  the  custom  he 
could  bnng  me.     But  I  won't  talk  hard  to  you ;  for  I've 
seen  enough  of  the  rough-and-tumble  of  life  to  find  out 
that  molasses  catches  more  flies  than  vine2:ar.     If  you'll 
only  try  to  make  things  comfortable,  and  be  kind  o' 
chipper  about  the  house,  and  never  snap  me  np  nor  be 
snarly  and  scratchy  tempered,  I  shan't  mind  if  you  don't 
bring  me  the  fust  red  cent.     I  will  do  all  the  earning, 
and  all  you'll  have  to  do,  will  be  to  take  care  of  what  I 
earn,  and  see  that  nothing  ^oes  to  waste.     You  can 
work  for  the  shop  whenever  it  suits  you,  as,  in  course, 
you  will  want  something  to  take  up  your  time,  as  you 
am  t  ^ven  to  gadding  all  over  creation  like  some  folks 
i  could  mention.    If  housework  don't  agree  with  you, 
i  U  git  a  little  yaller  girl  to  come  and  go  at  your  beck 


3M:  THE  EIVAL  TOTU^TTEEES  ;    OE, 

and  call,  and  you  may  dress  up  and  sit  in  the  best  front 
room  evevj  day  of  your  life." 

He  paused,  beaming  radiantly  upon  her  at  thought  of 
his  own  unparalleled  beneficence. 

"  You  are  very  good,"  faltered  Lucy,  ^rho  was  begin- 
ning to  fear  her  dauntlessly  persistent  wooer,  and  to  be 
seriously  apprehensive  of  the  effect  any  ill-judged  word 
on  her  part  might  have  on  her  future  prospects ;  "but  I 
tell  you  decidedly  that  I  cannot  marry  you ;  my  hand 
is  not  at  my  ovrn  disposal." 

"  Kot  at  your  own  disposal?  what  do  you  mean  by 
that?  that  you've  got  anotiicr  feller?" 

He  waited  for  her  reply,  but  she  gave  none.  Her 
silence  convinced  him  that  he  v/as  right  in  his  sur- 
mise. 

"  A  poor  shote,"  he  muttered  contemptuously,  "  to 
leave  you  to  shirk  fur  youi-self  in  this  way,  and  never 
once  come  nigh  you.  A  cut-throat  goriTia,  perhaps; 
our  troopers  will  soon  clear  the  State  of  them  vermin. 
I  don't  care  a  cud  of  tobacco  what  he  is,  or  where  he  is, 
if  he  will  only  keep  awfiy  from  here.  I  said  I  wouldn't 
ask  no  questions,  and  no  I  won't,  only  that  one  I  spoke  of." 

''  You  have  my  final  answer,"  Lucy  firmly  but  gently 
persisted. 

"  Then  you  sro  standing  most  awfully  in  your  own 
light,  I  can  tell  you  that,  young  woman ;  and  if  you 
don't  find  it  out,  and  that  right  soon  too,  I'll  lose  my 
guess." 

Lucy  trembled  at  the  sudden  change  in  his  tone  and 
manner,  the  former  harsh,  tlie  latter  stern,  as  he  uttered 
this  prediction  of  evil  omen. 

"  I  hope  this  subject  may  never  be  renewed,  !Mr. 
Moodcy,  that  it  may  be  forgotten,  and  everything  go  on 
the  same  as  before  it  was  breached." 

''  Wal,  1  reckon  not.  I  can  hire  ray  work  better  done 
for  less  monev.    There  is  Phebe  Shooks  could  do  as 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  S25 

m-tich  as  you  and  Gellj  both,  and  not  think  it  was  no 
great  shakes  nuther ;  and  my  store  needs  a  new  front 
wi.tli  a  plate-glass  window  bad.  How  much  do  I  owe 
you  r 

"  Only  a  trifle." 

^' You  may  live  to  see  the  time  when  you  won't  think 
a  iifry-cent  greenback  a  trifle,  but  that  is  your  hunt,  not 
mine.  You  ai-e  welcome  to  your  night's  lodging,  and 
yuii  can  flnisii  that  cambric  set  you  are  at  work  on  to 
pay  for  your  breakfast." 

fcShe  drew  one  long  breath,  then  applied  herself  steadily 
to  the  completion  of  the  task  assigned  her,  her  thoughts 
busy  with  the  wretched  experience  she  had  endured^  be- 
fore reaching  her  present  asylum.  She  called  to  mind 
the  incidents  occurring  directly  after  her  flight  from 
home ;  the  obscure  inn  where  she  had  passed  the  first 
night  thereafter;  the  shouts  and  stamping  of  a  drunken 
vagrant  who  had  been  shut  into  the  lock-up,  directly  be- 
neath her  chamber  window  for  safe  keeping;  her  terror 
at  finding  that  her  door  was  without  fastening  of  any 
kind,  and  her  attempts  at  improvising  some  such  safe- 
guard, resulting  in  breaking  her  scisso'rs'  points.  Yividly 
also  came  back  to  memory  her  first  essays  in  the  search 
for  employment;  the  paper  she  had  bought  of  a  news- 
boy, and  the  various  applications  she  had  been  induced 
to  make  by  its  column  of  ''Wants."  At  one  shop  she 
had  been  dismissed  with  a  gruflf  churlishness  from  which 
she  shrank  sensitively  like  one  wholly  unused,  as  she 
was,  to  such  style  of  address ;  while  at  a  second,  cour- 
teous regret  was  expressed  by  its  proprietor  at  being  un- 
able to  furnish  employment,  even  to  those  who  had  been 
long  in  his  service,  and  at  a  third  she  was  directed  to  a 
distant  part  of  the  city  in  quest  of  a  situation  she  was 
wholly  incompetent  to 'fill.  Toward  nightfall  she  had 
been  sent  to  Miss  Moodey,  and,  lier  brother  happening 
to  be  in  the  house,  he  had,  after  a  couple  of  days'  trial 


326"  THfi  BTVAL  TOLtnrrEERS;    OB, 

of  her  skill  with  the  needle,  engaged  her  to  do  sncli 
light  shop  work  as  came  easily  within  the  scope  of  her 
abih'ty. 

When  she  had  finished,  folded  and  laid  away  the 
cambric  set,  she  took  tlie  evening  paper  as  nsual,  and 
commenced  reading  aloud  to  the  employer  who  was  hers 
no  longer.  lie  was  evidently  in  no  enjoyable  mood,  and 
her  reading  seemed  rather  to  annoy  than  interest  him. 
In  the  midst  of  an  article  selected  expressly  for  his  gra- 
tification, he  abruptly  left  the  room,  and  taking  his  hat 
from  the  entry  table,  strode  out  of  the  house.  She  did 
not  see  him  again  that  night.  Kext  morning  she  arose 
before  any  one  else  was  astir  in  the  house.  She  was 
strongly  inclined  to  steal  away  without  leave-taking  of 
any  kind  ;  but  on  second  thought  was  forced  to  the  con- 
clusion that  this  would  be  construed  as  an  expression 
of  resentment,  vrhichshe  neither  felt  nor  desired  to  have 
unjustly  attributed  to  her.  Accordingly,  the  usual  hour 
for  breakfast  found  her  seated  at  table.  Mr.  Moodey 
kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  his  plate,  whose  contents  he  dis- 
posed of  with  a  gi-eat  show  of  appetite.  Lucy  sipped 
Iier  cofiee  without  even  the  pretence  of  eating.  Both 
rose  at  the  same  instant.  She  went  round  to  his  side, 
but  without  seeming  to  observe  her,  he  stalked  into  the 
entry,  and  began  hurriedly  to  thrust  his  arms  into  the 
sleeves  of  his  store-coat.  Not  to  be  repulsed,  she  fol- 
lowed him  into  the  entry,  standing  quietly  by  his  side 
until  he  had  no  longer  a  shadow  of  excuse  for  fumbling 
with  his  coat  buttons. 

"  I  wish  to  thank  you,  Mr.  Moodey,  and  to  bid  you 
good-bye." 

"Good-bye,"  he  curtly  responded,  starting  for  the 
outer  door  without  noticing  the  hand  she  held  towai'd 
liim.  He  turned  the  handle  to  the  latch,  then  hesitated, 
looking  back  to  her  a  little  ruefully. 

**  It's  all  your  own  doing,"  said  he ;  "  yon  wouldn't 


THE  BLACK  PLTJME  RIFLES.  321^^ 

have  me ;  but  for  all  that,  you  can  refer  to  me  if  you 
aiu-fc  got  nobody  else  to  speak  up  for  you." 

She  was  at  liis  side  in  an  instant,  a  look  of  deep  gra- 
titude on  her  face,  her  little  hand  resting  in  his  broad 
palm. 

''I  shall  always  remember  this  kindness,  Mr.  Moodey, 
for  it  is  little  enough  I  may  receive  from  others." 

"  If  the  world  does  not  use  you  well,  come  back  to 
me." 

He  closed  the  door  heavily  behind  him,  and  the  part- 
ing was  over. 

Once  more  Lucy  went  forth  a  homeless  wayfarer, 
seeking  some  mode  by  which  to  obtain  needful  shelter, 
food,  and  raiment. 


CHAPTEE  XXI. 


ADVICE     GRATIS 


A  SECOND  time  our  houseless  wanderer  has  secured  for 
herself  a  place  of  shelter  which  she  calls  home — a  cheer- 
less place  it  is,  too  ;  a  skylighted  attic  room  with  bare 
floor,  a  narrow  cot  with  palm-leaf  mattress  and  scant  co- 
vering, and  the  single  wooden  chair  in  which  she  is  con- 
stantly seated,  save  at  meal  times  and  during  the  hours 
of  nightly  rest. 

The  various  articles  of  boys'  wearing  apparel  strewn 
over  the  bed  plainly  indicated  the  occupation  to  which 
she  was  applying  herself.  Perseveringly  she  stitched 
away  at  the  G-recian  jacket  she  held  in  her  numb  fl.n- 
gers,  pausing  occasionally  to  chafe  them  into  warmth  ; 
for  the  day  was  chill,  and   through  the  uaiTOw  door 


82S.  THE   TwIVAL  TOLU^TEEIlS;    OXiy 

to  her  room  came  but  a  faint  glow  of  warmth  from 
the  open  stove  in  the  hall  three  stones  lower  down. 
There  were  no  means  for  lighting  a  fire  in  her  cham- 
ber, and  even  had  there  been,  she  wonld  not  have  per- 
mitted lierself  the  luxury  of  a  separate  fire,  although 
the  hacking  cough  that  so  often  interrupted  her  work 
rather  increased  than  abated  in  severit}'.  By  such 
slow,  insidious  approaches  did  it  undermine  her  strength, 
that  when,  one  morning,  she  found  herself  unable  to 
leave  her  bed,  she  could  scarcely  believe  that  she  was 
really  ill. 

"  i  nmst  get  up  ;  I  must  finish  this  suit  of  silver 
grey,  as  it  is  for  a  customer  on  the  first  floor  whom  I 
dare  not  disappoint." 

Hepeatedly,  resting  her  head  on  her  pillow,  she  strove 
to  go  on  with  her  task  ;  but  was  as  often  baffled  in  the 
attempt,  and  was  finally  forced  to  abandon  the  futile 
effort. 

Next  day  she  was  able  to  sit  up,  wrapped  in  her 
shawl ;  but  her  needle  was  an  implement  beyond  her 
power  of  grasp  for  more  than  a  few  minutes  at  a 
time.  . 

The  suit  of  clothing  she  was  so  desirous  to  finish  had 
come  to  her,  folded  in  a  newspaper.  This  she  removed, 
glancing  occasionally  at  any  short  article  that  happened 
to  arrest  her  notice.  Thus  it  chanced  that  her  eye  fell 
npon  an  advertisement  inserted  at  the  behest  of  one  Dr. 
Irlingham,  solely,  thus  ran  its  purport,  in  the  int3rest  of 
sufl'ering  humanity.  The  most  obstinate  cases  of  cough, 
with  attendant  symptons  of  lassitude,  depression,  wakeful- 
ness, and  kindred  disarrangement  of  vital  action,  h:id  dis- 
appeared as  if  by  magic  beneath  the  marvellous  e'ficacy 
of  the  treatment  which  had  constituted  the  advortiser 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  benefactors  of  his  race. 
Testimonials  to  this  etiect  had  been  received  and  could, 
if  needful,  be  produced,  from  some  of  the  highest  mag- 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  829 

nates  in  the  land,  from  Kew  England's  rock-boiind  coasts 
to  California's  golden  placers  ;  men  wlio  had  been 
snatched  from  the  very  jaws  of  disease,  ant]  restored  to 
a  state  of  robust  vigor  never  previously  enjoyed.  The 
great  medical  desideratum,  tiie  most  serions  want  of 
the  age,  had  at  last  been  vouchsafed  to  the  unwearied 
scientific  research,  the  laborious  investigation,  the  pa- 
tient and  protracted  experiments  in  combination,  analy- 
sis and  effect,  that  had  finally  resulted  in  a  new  metliod 
of  cure,  at  once  eradicatory  and  invigorating,  acting 
entirely  in  harmony  with  every  vital  law,  both  organic 
and  functional — always  an  aid,  never  a  hindrance,  to  the 
benign  processes  by  which  nature  seeks  to  repair  the 
ravages  of  disease.  In  order  that  no  one  might  be  de- 
prived of  the  benefits  of  the  wonderful  remedies,  it  was 
a  cruelty  to  withhold  from  the  suffering  sick,  from  the 
fact  of  being  unable  to  afford  the  large  fees  with  which 
his  more  wealthy  patrons  liberally  rewarded  his  invalu- 
able services,  the  doctor  had  set  apart  Wednesday  after- 
noon of  every  week  in  which  to  receive  patients  of  lim- 
ited means,  when  all  who  called  at  his  office  might  rely 
on  obtaining  a  full  and  accurate  diagnosis  of  the  disease 
from  which  each  was  suffering,  together  with  profes- 
sional advice,  free  of  all  charge  to  apj^licants. 

'•  It  is  Wednesday  afternoon,"  thought  Lucy,  "  and  I 
would  very  much  like  to  know  whether  I  am  only  a 
little  ailing  or  really  ill.  What  is  there  to  prevent  my 
consulting  the  doctor?  It  can  do  no  harm,  and  will 
cost  me  nothing  more  than  the  effort  of  a  long  walk.  If 
I  find  it  to  be  too  long,  I  have  only  to  turn  back." 

She  started ;  the  clear,  bracing  air  invigorated  her, 
and  the  walk  was  accomplished  with  much  less  fatigue 
than  she  had  anticipated. 

A  small  boy  admitted  her  to  an  ante-room  leading  to 
the  inner  professional  sanctuary,  and  in  this  hall  of  ad- 
mission she  was  desired  to  wait  for  the  termination  of 


330  THE   niTAL   yOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

an  interview  with  another  patient,  who  soon  made  her 
appearance,  in  tlie  form  of  a  red-faced  Irisli  e-irl,  who 
gave  vent  to  her  dissatisfaction  bj  this  muttered  pro- 
test : 

"  Two-an'-saxpence  for  a  phaster,  or  a  poultice,  wliich 
ivir  ye  calls  it,  to  put  on  mi  arm,  to  aise  this  raging 
pain  in  mi  tooth.  Bi  St.  Patrick's  day  in  the  moinin' 
but  it's  an  impersition,  when  it's  mysel'  could  get  the 
whole  thing,  ache  and  all,  dhrew  out  for  a  quarter  ;  bad 
cess  to  it,  but  that  is  twice  more  nor  the  old  shell  is 
worth !" 

Lucy  was  shown  into  the  presence  of  this  distinguished 
benefactor  of  his  race.  He  was  a  man  of  severe  and 
awe-inspiring  dignity,  as  became  one  of  faculty  so  pre- 
eminent. The  closeness  of  his  scrutiny  stai'tled  her 
with  the  impression  of  having  met  him  before.  An 
attack  of  coughing  forced  her  to  turn  her  head  aside, 
and  lie  improved  the  occasion  by  drawing  a  thick  Vene- 
tian blind  over  the  window. 

With  an  air  of  grave  and  weighty  deliberation  he 
pondered  the  symptoms  of  her  case,  which  he  seemed  to 
comprehend,  aided  by  a  very  slight  amount  of  infor- 
mation obtained  from  her.  A  stethoscope  was  next 
brought  into  requisition,  the  following  announcement 
proclaiming  the  result  of  his  auscultation  : 

"  The  case  is  one  that  will  require  great  care  on  your 
part,  eminent  skill  on  mine,  to  prevent  the  formation  of 
tubercles  on  t!ie  lungs,  incipient  stages  of  such  forma- 
tion being  already  unmistakably  discernible.  I  can  at 
present  do  nothing  more  than  arrest  the  progress  of  the 
disease ;  and  when  I  have  counteracted  and  subdued 
the  abnormal  action  of  the  entire  respiratory  organs,  I 
shall  be  better  able  to  decide  whether  your  ultimate  re- 
covery be  within  the  bounds  of  possibility.  You  have 
neglected  yourself  too  long  ;  had  you  come  to  me  a  few 
weeks  earlier,  your  disease  would  have  been  perfectly 


THE   BLACK   PLUME  EIFLES.  331 

amenable  to  active  treatment,  and  even  now  I  am  not 
prepared  to  assert  that  it  will  not  yield  to  appropriate 
remedies.  I  will  put  you  np  some  medicines  which 
will  act  as  alleviatives,  ii  not  of  direct  curative  power. 
It  is  something  to  be  made  comfortable  where  it  is  im- 
possible to  secure  at  once  the  renovated  vigor  of  ]3er- 
fect  health." 

Some  tiny  powders,  neatly  folded,  and  a  couple  of 
phials  filled  with  a  liquid  comj^ound,  he  was  doing  up 
for  her,  when  a  sound  from  the  ante-room  attracted  his 
notice.     He  paused  to  listen. 

"  He  is  busy  and  not  to  be  disturbed,  sir,"  said  the 
boy  by  whom  Lucy  had  been  admitted. 

"  Busy  or  not,  lie  will  see  me,  and  that  with  little 
delay,"  persisted  a  second  speaker,  in  cool,  determined 
tone. 

'•  It  is  my  orders  not  to  admit  any  one  when  he  is  en- 
gaged with  a  patient,  and  I  can't  break  rules,"  remon- 
strated the  boy. 

"  Stick  to  your  rules,  and  I  will  admit  myself,"  said 
the  new  comer. 

The  doctor  passed  hastily  into  the  ante-room,  care- 
fully closing  the  door  behind  him ;  but  the  latch  not 
catching  securely  in  the  socket,  the  handle  turned,  leav- 
ing the  door  ajar,  so  that  Lucy  could  not  avoid  hearing 
what  passed  between  the  speakers  in  the  adjoining  apart- 
ment. 

''  Dr.  Denton,  if  I  have  been  rightly  informed,"  was 
the  first  salutation  that  caught  her  ear. 

"  Dr.  Irlingham  at  your  service,"  blandly  correc!;ed 
the  doctor. 

Lucy  had  started  and  changed  color  at  the  mention 
of  this  name,  Denton,  calling  to  mind  her  impressio.i  of 
having  seen  him  before — an  impression  since  obliterated 
by  the  overpowering  anxiety  excited  by  his  alarming 
account  of  the  state  of  her  health. 


332  THE   KIYAL   VOLUNTEERS;    OR, 

^'I  have  good  grounds  for  believing,"  persisted  the 
first  speaker,  '"that  jou  are  the  same  person  renting  the 
small  office  in  *' 

*'  Leave  the  room,"  broke  in  the  doctor,  addressing 
small  boy,  who  made  his  exit  accordingly. 

^^  Nov/,  sir,  I  will  listen  to  what  you  have  to  say." 

'^  I  simply  repeat  my  assertion,  that  yon  are  the  same 
person  passing  under  the  name  of  Denton  at  the  small 
offi.ce  in  the  rear  of  the  Ironside  Apothecary  shop." 

"  Allow  me  to  ask  what  induced  this  surmise  on  your 
part?" 

''  It  is  no  surmise,  but  a  certainty.  I  went  to  the 
office  I  have  already  mentioned  in  search  of  Dr.  Den- 
ton, and  found  only  his  assistant  or  accomplice — suit 
yourself  to  terms — who  informed  me  that  you  was  only 
there  at  stated  hours  of  specified  days;  but  when  I 
threatened  him  with  a  caning  if  he  didn't  tell  me  where 
you  was  ordinarily  to  be  seen,  he  prudently  divulged." 

"A  most  singular  and  high-handed  mode  of  proce- 
dure, upon  my  souL" 

*' Don't  try  the  outraged-dignity  dodge  on  me;  that 
cat  won't  jump.  My  object  was  to  find  you,  and  I  gene- 
rally succeed  in  any  deliberately-formed  purpose  of 
mine." 

"  Your  success  in  the  present  instance  shall  be  re- 
warded by  an  explanation  it  will  cost  me  but  a  trifling 
waste  of  breath  to  make.  When  old  Dr.  Denton  retired 
from  the  profession,  I  paid  him  a  handsome  bonus  for 
the  office  he  vacated,  and  for  the  practice  that  went  with 
it.  This  practice  was,  in  medical  parlance,  a  apecia'ty  ; 
and  wdien  those  afflicted  with  the  special  ailments  he 
had  for  many  years  successfully  treated  came  to  me  for 
relief,  mistaking  me  for  the  man  to  whom  they  had 
been  recommended  by  those  he  had  cured,  I  let  the  mis- 
take pass  uncorrected,  as  it  harmed  no  one  and  bene- 
fited me." 


THE  BLACK   PLUME  RIFLES.  333 

"  Tliat  it  benefited  yon,  I  hare  not  a  shade  of 
doubt;  whetlier  or  not  it  harmed  anj  one  is  an  open 
question."  ^ 

''  I  beg  jour  pardon,  it  is  not  an  open  question  ;  my 
time  IS  too  vakiabJe  to  be  thrown  away  in  profitless 
altercation.  I  have  ah-eadj  deigned  a  more  ample 
explanation  than  any  mere  stranger  is  entitled  to  expect. 
it  .you  desire  medical  aid,  command  me,  sir ;  otherwise 
1  Will  return  to  my  interrupted  duties." 

''  First  tliere  is  a  little  account  to  be  settled  between 


us 


i  woiild  like  the  amount  of  your  charges  against 
my  niece,  Eoberta  Fay."  o        »        ^ 

"  i';a  too  busy  to  attend  to  it  now,  as  I  cannot  spend 
time  to  look  over  my  books." 

"lean  await  your  leisure;  but  this  room  I  do  not 
leave^until  our  account  is  squared." 
^  "  Very  well,  if  you  can  wait,  I  will  set  aside  all  con- 
siderations of  mere  personal  convenience  while  comply- 
mg  with  your  demands."  ^  ^ 

^' I  can  wait,"  was  the  laconic  response. 

After  a  brief  absence  the  doctor  returned,  sayin^  : 

"  Here  is  your  bill,  sir."  '      "^ 

Then  followed  a  brief  silence,  broken  by  the  exclama- 
tion :  *^ 

/'Three    hundred   dollars!    for  ^hat  ?      You    never 
visited  my  niece  twenty  times." 

"  I  do  not  charge  for  visits,  but  for  entire  course  of 
treatment.  It  was  a  very  obscure  and  complicated  case, 
requiring  a  great  amount  of  study;  and  the  medicines 
which  i  supphed  were  difiicult  to  procure,  and  of  the 
costliest  description." 

''  I  understand  their  value  quite  as  well  as  yourself, 
and  refuse,  point  blank,  to  pay  the  bill" 

1^  Then  I  will  give  it  to  a  lawyer  for  collection." 
1  ou  can't  be  too  quick  about  it.     When  I  found 
that  It  was  Arnold  Clermont  who  recommended  my 


834  THE  RIVAL   TOLU>'TEEES;    OR, 

niece  to  apply  to  you  for  advice,  I  at  once  suspected  a 
systematic  course  of  fraud  and  imposition,  \vll\\  the 
extortion  naturally  accompanying  that  style  of  sliai-p 
practice." 

''  Arnold  Clermont !  what  do  you  know  of  him  ?" 

"  I  have  practised  for  the  last  ten  years  in  the  Paris 
hospitals,  and  one  learus  strange  secrets  in  that  sort  of 
confessional  at  times  ;  however,  that  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  present  case,  and  I  never  play  the  part  of 
informer,  unless  it  be  to  subserve  the  purposes  of  justice, 
or  to  protect  the  interests  of  society." 

"  Who  are  you  ?" 

"Dr.  Chillingford  is  the  name,  and  the  only  one,  I 
answer  to.  Thanks  to  the  medicines  supplied  by  you, 
portions  of  which  my  niece  still  retains,  and  to  her 
account  of  herself,  I  am  able  to  furnish  you  with  a 
tolerably  exact  analysis  of  the  mode  of  treatment  adopted 
in  her  case.  She  was  on  her  way  to  a  private  concert, 
where  she  had  a  solo  to  sing,  and  being  somewhat 
hoarse  from  the  eflects  of  a  sl^ht  cold,  she  was  induced, 
by  an  acquaintance,  to  procure  a  box  of  your  pulmonic 
wafers  to  clear  her  voice.  She  added  to  her  cold  by 
exposure,  became  feverish,  and  you  was  sent  for. 
Instead  of  prescribing  the  simple  emollient  drinks  which 
were  all  she  needed,  you  greatly  exaggerated  the  gravity 
of  the  case,  thorouglily  alarming  my  widowed  sister — 
the  most  credulous  creature  alive — by  allusions  to  dip- 
theria ;  and  ended  by  administering  quinine  and  other 
powerful  tonics,  until  her  system  was  toned  into  a 
violent  fever.  When  this  had  burned  itself  out,  and 
nearly  all  the  victim's  vitality  with  it,  instead  of  striving 
to  repair  the  wasted  tissues  by  some  light  form  of  nutri- 
ment, you  gave  her  calomel  until  she  was  salivated,  and 
every  tooth  in  her  head  was  loosened.  To  fill  up  the 
measure  of  your  iniquities, -you  stilled  her  restlessness 
by  various  preparations   of   morphia,   and  when  her 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  335 

nervoiis  system  was  so  completely  shattered  that  her 
sight  grew  morbid,  imaginary  goblins  and  phantoms 
liittmg  about  her  bed,  you  coolly  inquired  if  insanity 
were  hereditary  in  the  family. 

"I  found  her  too  weak  to  raise  her  hand  to  her  head, 
doomed,  in  all  probability,  to  become  a  life-long  invalid. 
I  have  heard  of  overworked  army  surgeons  whippino- 
oil  a  leg  to  save  the  care  and  attention  necessary  to  the 
restoration  of  the  mutilated  member,  and  of  youno- 
practitioners  who  were  far  too  ready  to  use  the  saw,  the 
lancet,  and  the  ligature,  for  the  sake  of  acquiring  expert- 
ness  m  handling  the  same  ;  but  never  so  wanton  a  dis- 
regard of  the  most  ordinary  laws  of  hygiene  as  you  have 
exhibited  in  the  present  instance.  Such  inhuman  mal- 
practice, persisted  in  for  the  sole  purpose  of  extortino* 
exorbitant  fees  from  proHtable  patients,  ought  to  be  a 
legally  indictable  offence  ;  but  there  is  still  a  corrective 
for  this  species  of  empirical  fraud— public  exposure.  I 
am  well  known  in  this  city,  where  I  was  born  and  bred ; 
if  I  cannot  otherwise  procure  the  insertion  of  an  article 
in  the  daily  papers,  I  can  afford  to  pay  for  such  inser- 
tion. I  make  no  threats.  Leave  that  little  bill  for 
collection  whenever  it  suits  your  convenience.  Good 
day,  sir." 

When  Dr.  Irlingham  came  back  to  her,  Lucy  noticed 
that  his  eyes  were  lit  by  an  angry  llaine,  and  his 
features  ^  working  with  rage.  He  walked  about  the 
dimly  lighted  room,  seeming  scarcely  aware  of  her 
presence. 

"I  am  in  haste,"  she  ventured,  as  a  remainder,  being 
anxious  to  escape  before  his  attention  was  a^ain  specially 
directed  to  herself,  "  and  would  like  the  little  parcel  yoa 
were  preparing  for  me." 

''Jiiank  you,  certainly;  I  will  attend  to  it,"  he  ab- 
stractedly replied. 

She  saw  that  his  hand  was  unsteady  as  he  folded  the 


S36  T-HE    RIVAL    volunteers;    OR, 

paper  ahont  phials  and  powders,  and  knotted  the  small 

i:)inlv  cord    binding  tlie   same ;   handing   them    to   her 

with  the  remark,  "  Advice  gratis  ;  only  your  medicines 

to  be  paid  for ;  five  dollars  you  are  indebted  to  me." 

S!ie  could  ill  atibrd  the  outlay;  but  so  anxious  was 

she  to  leave  tlie  olnce  without  beino*  recos^nized,  that 

•  ••• 

she  hesitated   not   a  moment   in  complying  with  his 

demands. 

"  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  one  week  from  to-day," 
said  the  doctor,  *•  unless  you  should  become  worse, 
in  which  case  I  am  to  be  immediately  informed  of  the 
fact." 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  state  that  she  left,  firmly 
resolved  never  to  repeat  her  visit. 

In  the  evening,  her  boarding-honse-keeper  came  up  to 
Lucy's  room,  making  inquiries  for  her  health,  and 
advising  her  to  consult  one  of  the  boarders,  a  physician 
formerly  renowned  for  skill,  but  who  had,  years  since, 
retired  from  active  practice. 

"  We  all  consult  him  for  little  ailments,"  pursued 
Miss  Lunt ;  ''  f  )r  since  his  son  threw  np  a  profitable 
business  and  enlisted  as  private  in  a  regiment  of  volun- 
teers. Dr.  Croyland  is  more  glad  to  see  us  than  when 
lie  had  Leonard  wiih  him  every  evening." 

Lucy  readily  acceded  to  Miss  Luut's  pr^osal ;  and 
the  latter,  after  conducting  her  to  the  doctor's  sitting- 
room,  introduced  her  and  withdrew. 

To  liis  questions,  few  and  adroitly  worded,  Lucy 
readily  replied  ;  and  then  requested  his  opinion  as  to 
the  ingredients  of  the  liquid  compounds  she  had  a  couple 
of  hours  previously  obtained  from  Dr.  Irlingham. 

Her  newly  selected  advisor  took  the  phials,  critically 
examining  their  contents,  an  odd  smile  curling  his  lip 
the  while.  % 

"  Can  you  tell  what  they  are  composed  of?"  she 
asked. 


THE    BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  337 

"  "VTith  sufficient  exactness  to  answer  all  practical 
purposes.  I  slionld  pronounce  the  liquids  to  be  liiglily 
spiritualized  solutions  of  rnolasses  and  water,  colored 
with  red  sauuders,  and  tinctured  with  sassafras  and 
cardamom  seed  to  cover  the  smell  and  taste.  Let  me 
avail  myself  of  the  privilege  conferred  by  age  and 
experience^  by  earnestly  waruiug  you  against  the  per- 
nicious practice  of  dosing  yourself  witli  drugs  in  any 
form  whatever.  You  need  nothing  of  the  sort.  Your 
cough  is  nothing  serious.  Your  ills  will  cure  them- 
selves in  time.  Keep  yourself  in  cheerful  spirits  ;  exer- 
cise as  much  as  you  can  without  fatigue  ;  and  have  no 
apprehensions  for  the  future.  I  beg  your  pardon  ;  if 
you  have  formed  a  clandestine  marriage — I  would  not 
for  an  instant  be  guilty  of  the  disrespect  of  supposing 
you  single — you  should  at  ©nee  insist  on  its  acknowledg- 
ment. The  kindness  of  my  motives  will,  I  trust,  excuse 
the  plainness  of  my  speech.  Should  you  desire  to  con- 
sult me  again,  my  advice,  whether  friendly  or  profes- 
sional, is  freely  at  your  service." 

With  a  heavy  step  and  heavier  heart,  Lucy  returned 
to  her  room,  and  sat  down  face  to  face  with  the  new 
aspect  of  affairs  the  physician's  disclosure  had  presented 
to  her. 

"  Have  no  apprehensions  for  the  future,"  she  repeated, 
*'How  can  I  help  such  apprehension?     I  can  just  sap-^_ 
port  myself  by  working  steadily  ;  but,  when  I  cannot  " 
work  at  all,  with  additional  expenses,  too,  what  is  to  be- 
come of  me?" 

She  rose,  closed  the  door  to  her  room,  turned  the  brass 
button  constituting  its  fastening,  wrapped  herself  in  lier 
warm  shawl  of  tartan  plaid,  drew  her  chair  beside  the 
bed,  and,  folding  her  arms  across  the  pillow,  rested  her 
head  thereupon,  giving  way  to  one  of  those  passionate 
outbursts  of  weeping  that  exhaust  the  physical  energies 
without  bringing  solace  to  the  sorely  laden  spirit. 

16 


3S8  THE    KIYAL    VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR,  ' 

When  her  mef  had  had  its  way,  she  strove  to  rouso 
herself  from  tne  apathy  succeeding  it. 

*'Thi5  is  not  obeying  the  doctor's  directions  and  being 
cheerful,"  she  said  to  herself.  "  I  ought  to  be  glad  that 
my  cough  is  nothing  serious  ;  but  I  am  too  miserable  to 
be  glad  of  anything  just  now.  It  won't  mend  matters 
to  gloze  them  over  even  in  my  own  thoughts.  It  is  a 
thorny  path  that  first  false  step  of  mine  has  forced  me 
into,  and  I  must  follow  it  as  best  I  can,  not  disguising 
from  myself  the  fact  that  it  was  my  own  misdoing  which 
brought  me  to  this  forlorn  pass.  Xo  matter  how  un- 
worthy the  conduct  of  M.  Meurice,  his  wrong-doing 
doesn't  palliate  mine.  It  was  only  through  treachery 
to  another  that  I  placed  myself  in  his  power.  My  con- 
science does  not  accuse  me  falsely  when  it  tells  me  1  did 
my  best  to  attract  the  notice  I  coveted,  while  caring 
nothing  for  him  by  whom  it  was  bestowed — that  I  strove 
to  win  admiration  simply  from  love  of  admiration — a 
game  as  unsafe  as  ungenerous  for  any  woman  to  venture 
on ;  but,  since  I  made  the  venture,  I  must  even  take 
the  consequences  I  cannot  escape.  Where  is  the  use  of 
fretting  and  worrying  about  what  can't  be  helped  ?  I 
must  not  waste  my  strength  in  this  way,  for  my  strength 
is  all  I  have  to  depend  on  now — now,  when  I  feel  the 
need  of  kindly  care  as  never  in  my  life  before.  I  will 
not  think  of  this ;  my  energies  shall  be  put  to  better 
use." 

She  dried  her  eyes,  opened  the  door,  lit  her  lamp  and 
set  it  in  the  chair,  folded  her  shawl,  and,  placing  it  on 
the  floor  as  a  seat,  resolutely  went  to  work  on  the  suit 
of  boys'  clothing  which  was  nearly  completed.  Weak- 
ness soon  compelled  her  to  relinquish  the  vain  effort  of 
proceeding  with  her  task. 

After  a  few  minutes'  reflection,  she  went  down  four 
flights  of  stairs  to  the  kitchen,  where,  in  a  corner,  clean- 
ing plated  dish-covers,  sat  the  trim,  buxom  German  girl 


THE   BLACK    PLUME   RIFLES.  339 

Y^ho  performed  all  acts  of  hoiiseliolcl  service  with  such  a 
ready  gracionsness  that  one  was  disposed  to  ask  them  as 
a  iavor  rather  than  demand  them  as  a  right.  To  her 
Lucv  made  appeal. 

''  I  know,  my  good  Muichen,  that  you  have  more  than, 
enough  to  do,  but  I  am  sure  you  will  give  me  a  slice  of 
bread  and  a  glass  of  water  when  I  tell  you  I  have  eaten, 
nothing  since  breakfast." 

*'  Eaten  nothing  since  breakfast,"  said  the  good-natured 
cook  ;  '^  that  isn't  right.  'No  one  can  work  and  fast  both 
at  once.  Sit  here  while  I  toast  your  bread  quite  nicely. 
Then  I  shall  pour  you  out  a  cup  of  broma.  See  how 
bright  the  cup  is.  I  like  my  block  tins  to  look  like 
silver,  so  1  always  give  them  a  rub  with  silv^er  powder 
whenever  I  dry  them  with  a  towel ;  that  is  the  way 
Madame  Miiller  taught  me — I  lived  with  her  since  when 
I  was  a  child — but  she  had  real  silver,  and  such  beautiful 
ways.  She  paid  my  fare  when  we  came  over  to  this 
country,  and  I  thought  to  live  with  her  always,  but  she 
died,  and  I  have  been  with  Miss  Lunt  ever  since.  She 
is  kind  to  me,  but  not  like  my  lost  mistress.  There, 
your  cocoa  has  warmed  by  the  steam  from  this  kettle  ; 
you  must  have  a  clean  napkin  on  a  corner  of  the  table, 
with  toast  and  a  bit  of  cold  chicken  left  from  dinner. 
Does  it  look  inviting  ?" 

"  I  am  sure  it  does,  you  dear,  good  Minchen,  all  the 
more  so  from  your  kindness  in  being  so  willing  to  get  it 
for  me." 

"  Shall  I  go  away,  or  stay  and  wait  on  you  ?" 

''I  shall  require  no  waiting  on  ;  but  there  is  no  occa- 
sion for  your  leaving :  you  al-e  so  cheerful  that  I  like  to 
hear  you  talk." 

"  That  isn't  the  reason  I  like  to  listen  to  every  word 
you  say,  which  is  because  you  speak  to  me  as  one  lady 
speaks  to  another,  and  that  makes  me  think  of  dear 
Madame  Miiller,  who  hadn't  one  way  of  speaking  for 


S40  THE    KIVAL   VOLUNTEEES  ;    OR, 

the  genti-y  and  another  for  poor  folks,  who  feel  the  dif- 
ference if  tliey  say  nothing.  If  you  Avouldu't  mind*,  I 
would  like  to  ask  why  you  didn't  come  down  to  dinner 
and  to  tea.'' 

**  Because  I  felt  so  miserable  I  preferred  going  with- 
out my  meals — I  didn't  miss  thena  much — to  meeting  all 
the  boarders  at  table." 

''That  is  too  bad  ;  if  you  feel  no  better  to-morrow, 
you  shall  not  come  down,  and  you  shall  be  served  equal 
to  the  very  best.  I  will  find  time  to  make  you  a  soup 
so  very  nice  as  you  shall  not  often  see.  I  learned  to 
make  it  in  the  old  home-land  ;  listen,  you  shall  know. 
A  bone  so  slowly  stewed  all  the  morning,  so  carefully 
skimmed,  then  vegetables,  celery,  anything,  chopped 
very  tine  and  stewed  very  much  all  the  same,  salt  and 
pepper  you  know  very  well  without  me,  all  to  be 
strained,  and  the  soup  put  back  in  the  stew-pan,  with 
bread-crumbs  one  half  tea-cupful,  and  mace  and  maca- 
roni. You  shall  like  the  German  cookery,  I  know,  and 
I  shall  bring  it  up  to  you  myself." 

This  expression  of  simple  good-will  deeply  moved  its 
recipient,  and  she  desired  in  some  way  to  testify  her 
appreciation  of  the  same. 

Unfastening  from  about  her  neck  the  narrow  linen 
band  answering  the  purpose  of  collar,  she  handed  it  to 
the  girl. 

''It  is  hardly  worth  the  giving,  but  I  am  poor  like 
yourself" 

Minchen  drew  back. 

"  I  thank  you  all  the  same,  but  I  am  well  paid  for 
all  I  do  here ;  I  have  money  laid  by  out  of  my  earn- 
ings." 

''  But  money  will  not  buy  kindness  such  as  you  have 
shown  me,  Minchen ;  and  I  had  thought  you  might  be 
pleased  to  accept  a  proof  of  kindness,  trifling  though  it 
be,  in  return." 


THE   BLACK    PLUME    RIFLES.  34:1 

"I  am  niucli  bound  to  jou,"  returned  Minclien,  no 
longer  declining  the  preferred  gift. 

Strengthened  bj  food,  consoled  by  the  ready  sym- 
pathy of  one  whose  fortunes,  humble  as  they  might  be, 
A\'cre,  nevertheless,  superior  to  her  own,  Lucy  went  back 
to  her  attic  room,  plying  her  needle  diligently  until  her 
task  was  completed. 


CHAPTEE  XXn. 

CHANCE     ENCOUNTERS. 

As  Lucy  sat,  next  day,  pondering  over  the  ways  and 
means  by  which  her  expenses  might  be  lessened,  her  in- 
come augmented,  arriving,  it  must  be  confessed,  at  no 
very  satisfactory  result  to  her  cogitations,  she  bethought 
her  of  the  small  amount  of  jewelry  which  had  once  been 
her  mother's,  but  was  now  indubitably  her  own.  It  had 
not  occurred  to  her  to  take  it  with  ber  on  forsaking  her 
former  luxurious  home.  AYas  it  yet  too  late  to  remedy 
the  oversight  ?  To  be  sure,  the  rings  and  buckles  were 
old-fashioned  and  ill-designed,  but  some  of  the  settings 
were  heavy,  and  could  readily  be  disposed  of  as  old 
gold.  How  to  obtain  possession  of  them,  that  was  the 
question.  The  box  containing  them  she  had  herself 
placed  on  the  top  shelf  of  her  dressing-room  closet,  and 
presumed  they  had  remained  there  untouched  ever  since. 
If  she  could  but  gain  admission  to  the  house  unperceived, 
there  would  be  little  difficulty  in  the  way  of  accomplish- 
ing her  purpose.     She  deteruiined  to  make  the  trial. 

Possibly  some  vague  desire  of  obtaining  positive  as- 
surance  of  Mr.    Caruthers'   welfare;  of    looking   once 


34:2  THE    RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR, 

more  on  the  liorne  to  wliicli,  in  tlioiight,  slie  often  invo- 
Inntarily  retiinied  with  longing,  lingering  regret,  may 
Laye  inlineiiced  lier  decision  ;  if  so,  not  even  to  lierscli* 
did  she  acknowledge  such  motive. 

It  was  nearly  sundown  when  she  set  forth,  a  thick, 
brown  veil  eliectually  screening  her  features,  in  prose- 
cution of  her  plan. 

The  distance  fronj  her  boarding-place  to  the  more 
fashionable  part  of  the  city  was  so  great  that,  deciding 
the  walk  to  it  w^ould  consume  more  time  than  she  had 
to  spare,  she  entered  an  omnibus,  which  set  lier  down 
within  a  square  of  Mr  Caruthers'  stately  mansion.  The 
rear  garden  gate  leading  thereto,  she  entered  without  a 
shadow  of  hesitation  ;  for  even  if  discovered  by  one  of 
the  servants,  she  wore  not  an  article  of  dress  that  could 
provoke  recognition,  and  had  only  to  ask  if  Mr.  Hun- 
ter, the  gentleman  next  door,  lived  there,  to  account 
phiusibly  for  lier  intrusion. 

Fortune  seemed  to  be'riend  her,  for  she  made  her 
way  undiscovered,  to  the  rear  angle  of  the  conservatory. 
A  sash  was  up  to  air  the  plants,  which  were  dripping 
with  water,  showing  that  they  had  just  been  showered 
from  the  hose  still  lying  in  coils  on  the  perforated  mar- 
ble floor.  Tlie  man  in  charge  of  the  floral  department 
had  evidently  been  called  away  in  the  midst  of  the 
showering  process,  and  was  liable  at  any  moment  to 
return  and  drop  the  sash.  Isot  an  instant  was  to  be  lost. 
She  darted  through  the  conservatory  into  a  narrow  pas- 
sage used  only  by  the  servants,  and  np  a  side  staircase 
rarely  used  at  all.  When  neaily  at  the  top  of  the 
stairs,  she  stopped,  rooted  to  the  spot.  Directly  in  front 
of  her,  but  wiih  his  back  toward  her,  stood  the  colored 
florist,  whose  temporary  absence  from  his  sphere  of  duty 
had  allbrded  her  means  of  ingress,  disentangling  a  ball 
of  coarse  twine,  with  wdiich  to  fasten  some  creepers 
to  their  trellises. 


THE   BLACK   PLTJME  EITLES.  343 

Lucy's  courage  almost  failed  lier.  Should  slie  fly 
while  still  the  "way  of  escape  was  open  to  her  ?  More 
than  half  resolved  to  make  the  attempt,  she  turned  to 
retrace  her  steps,  ^vhen  a  new  complication  presented 
itself  in  the  shape  of  a  house-maid  coming  along  the 
passage,  trolling  snatches  from  a  popular  minstrel 
melody  to  which  the  florist  roared  in  hilarious  re- 
sponse— 

*'  Lubby  Rosy,  Sambo  come, 
Don't  you  hear  the  banjo  tum,  tum,  turn?-' 

The  bearer  of  broom  and  dust-pan  hushed  her  voice 
and  entered  the  conservatory. 

Lucy's  heart  beat  high.  Between  these  two  horns  of 
a  dilemma  what  but  a  bare  possibility  remained  to  her 
of  escaping  both?  She  crouched,  breathless,  upon  the 
stairs.  Her  last  chance  of  escape  seemed  vanishing 
when  the  maid  came  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  calling  out 
in  high  dudgeon, 

"  Here,  Lonzo,  you  miserable  brack  sheep  ;  didn't  you 
tell  me  to  go  an'  sweep  up  de  leaves,  an'  iiabn't  you 
dun  gwine  made  such  a  swash,  there  ain't  no  doin' 
nothing  in  such  a  puddle  ?" 

"  Don't  waste  your  bref,  lubby  Eosy,  a-chiding  dis 
chile ;  but  jus  cum  and  help  discumstrangle  dis  drefi'ul 
snarl  wid  your  lubly,  limber  fingers." 

Lucy  was  calculating  the  chances  of  being  handed 
over  to  the  police  on  the  charge  of  entering  a  dwelling 
with  intent  to  steal,  and  the  slender  j^robability  of  being 
able,  in  such  case,  to  conceal  her  identity,  when  her 
apprehensions  were  partially  lulled  by  the  saucy  re- 
sponse. 

"  I'se  got  oder  fish  to  fry.  When  dis  darkey  gets  in 
a  snarl  she  jes  gets  out  on't,  no  tanks  to  nobody  ;  but 
some  gemman's  fingers  is  all  t'umbs,  and  dey's  so  tick 
skulled,  so  tick  skulled.     Hi,  hi." 


844  THE  RIVAL   VOLUNTEERS  ;    OR,  _ 

"  Gets  in  a  snarl  an'  gets  out  on't,  does  she  ?  we'se  see 
'bout  dat ;  T\-e'se  see  'bout  dat,"  muttered  the  incensed 
Lonzo,  moving  off  at  a  quick  pace  toward  the  stairwaj 
leading  to  tlic  idtchen  domain. 

Once  more  Lucy  breathed  freely.  To  the  last 
speaker's  diversion  from  his  original  plan  of  procedure, 
and  to  the  favoring  darkness  of  the  unlighted  staircase 
where  she  crouched,  she  owed  her  escape  from  detec- 
tion. 

Rapidly  completing  the  ascent  of  the  stairs,  she  cau- 
tiously made  her  way  to  the  chamber  from  which  her 
dressing-room  opened.  To  her  inexpressible  chagrin, 
she  found  the  door  between  the  two  rooms  locked,  and 
the  key  withdrawn.  There  was  no  help  for  it ;  she 
must  leave  without  accomplishing  the  design  for  Avhich 
she  had  risked  so  much.  She  had  nearly  reached  the 
door,  in  pursuance  of  this  intent,  when  the  sound  of  a 
firm,  manly  step  oscending  the  front  staircase  defeated 
her  purpose.  She  just  had  time  to  conceal  herself,  be- 
hind tlie  silken  curtains  depending  from  the  canopy 
over  the  bed,  before  Mr.  Caruthers  entered  the  room, 
dropped  the  draperies  over  the  windows,  turned  on  the 
gas  which  had  been  dimly  burning  at  his  entrance,  sat 
down  at  a  marble  slab  beneatli  the  burner,  and  com- 
menced assorting  some  papers  which  he  drew,  one  by  one, 
from  a  large  gutta-perciia  envelope  he  held  in  his  hand. 
Coming  to  a  written  schedule,  he  unfolded  it,  reading 
the  names  and  commenting  thereon  in  an  under-tone,  as 
his  listener  had  heard  him  do  on  a  previous  occasion. 
Here  is  a  sample  of  his  style  : 

"  Eben  Whipple — five  hundred — good,  but  slow  pay ; 
needs  looking  after.  Peter  Stringer — two  thousand, 
charged  off  to  profit  and  loss — no  calculator — goes  in 
at  high  figures  and  gets  aground  when  the  tide  turns — 
no  nerve;  never  can  hold  on  for  prices  to  rise — no 
caution  ;  sells  right  and  left,  his  profits  eaten  up  by  bad 


THE   BLACK   PLTTME   ErpXES.  345 

debts.  He  had  better  clerk  it  by  half,  Til  write  and  tell 
liim  so ;  take  ten  cents  on  a  dollar,  and  wind  it  np. 
Chase  and  Longwood — np  to  sharp  practice — can  pay 
but  don't  mean  to — property  enough,  but  held  in  some 
other  person's  name.  Have  no  idea  of  being  jewed 
out  of  three  thousand  by  them.  Will  put  my  account 
in  the  liands  of  a  clear-headed  lawyer  who  lives  near 
them,  and  if  that  don't  open  their  eyes  and  bring  them 
to  terms,  they  will  get  law  enough  before  they  get 
through  with  it.  I  can  stand  the  expense  as  long  as 
they  can." 

Lucy  was  in  terror  lest  one  of  her  attacks  of  cough- 
ing should  come  on  ;  but  again  fortune  befriended  her, 
or  otherwise,  as  the  event  might  have  proved,  and 
the  irritability  of  her  throat  was  scarcely  felt  for  the 
time. 

So  apparently  absorbed  was  Mr.  Caruthers  in  the 
furtherance  of  his  own  projects,  that  she  ventured  to 
move  slightly  so  as  to  obtain  a  side-view  of  his  face. 
He  looked  so  strong,  so  resolute,  so  well  able  to  defend 
her  from  any  adverse  blow,  whatever  the  quarter 
whence  it  came,  that  instinctively  the  desire  arose 
within  her  to  give  her  weakness  the  prop  of  his  strength. 

"  If  I  could  only  reveal  to  him  my  real  motives  for  de- 
serting him,"  she  said  to  herself;  "  only  explain  to  him 
why  1  was  compelled  to  leave,  I  should  at  least  regain 
my  old  place  in  his  esteem,  be  comforted  by  his  forgive- 
ness, and  reassured  by  his  counsel.  It  cannot  be.  I 
must  not  deceive  myself;  his  esteem  would  not  content 
me;  nor  his  counsel,  however  kindly,  still  these  miser- 
able longings  for  more  heartfelt  and  endearing  sym- 
pathy. Further  than  that,  such  a  course  on  my  part 
would  but  endanger  his  safety.  Well  I  remember  Lis 
look  as  he  said  of  M.  Meurice,  '  Let  him  cross  my  path 
and  see  how  he  comes  out.'  What  deadly  malignity, 
too,  had  gleamed  iu  the  eyes  of  Monsieur,  as  he  told 

15* 


346  THE  MTAL  VOLtTNTEERS ;   0», 

her  of  the  man  who  was  assassinated  in  the  street  for 
re  ventre. 

"  If  I  confess  all  to  Mr.  Caruthers,"  she  reflected,  *'  his 
first  step  would  be  to  call  M.  Menrice  to  account,  and 
where  it  would  all  end,  Heaven  only  knows.  Am  1 
to  be  a  source  of  contention,  of  bloodshed  perhaps,  be- 
tween these  two?  Never.  Both  are  safe  in  my  ab- 
sence, safe  let  them  remain.  Whatever  happens  to  me, 
my  conscience  shall  be  burdened  by  no  fresh  misdoing. 
It'^is  no  more  than  right  that  everything  should  go  on 
the  same ;  that  I  should  not  even  be  missed  here  ;  but  it 
is  hard,  harder  than  I  could  have  believed,  to  bear. 
Imperative  duty  forbids  that  my  heart  should  flow  out 
to  him,  hut  he  knows  no  such  stern  check  to  faithful 
remembrance  of  me." 

Tears  of  tender  regret,  which  she  strove  to  repress, 
half  fearing  them  to  be  wrong,  welled  up  to  her  eyes. 

There  was  the  sound  of  a  second  and  lighter  step 
on  the  stairs.  The  door  opened,  and  Miss  Dian  Caru- 
thers, in  super!)  walking  costume,  entered  the  cham- 
ber. 

*'  They  told  me  you  was  in  the  house,  Kilby,  and  as 
I  am  in  a  hurry,  I  preferred  looking  you  up  myself  to 
waiting  the  slow  movements  of  a  servant.  You  will  go 
with  us  to  the  Irlinghams  to-night." 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Really  it  is  insufferably  tiresome  of  you,"  she  re- 
monstrated, "now  that  you  have  so  far  recovered  the  use 
of  your  arm  as  to  dispense  with  a  sling,  to  stay  moping 
at  home  in  this  absurd  way." 

"  You  jump  to  hasty  conclusions.  I  have  an  engage- 
ment that  calls  me  in  another  direction." 

"  Defer  it,  then ;  for  I  assure  you  this  evening's  enter- 
tainment is  well  worth  attending.  There  are  to  be 
private  theatricals,  and  Dr.  Mingham  himself  is  to  take 
the  part  of  the  *  social  bandit '  in  the  new  drama  en- 


THE  BLACK   PLtTME   HTFLES.  847 

titled,  ^  Every  man  for  himself,  and  the  de'il  take  the 
hindmost.'  With  his  talents,  he  will  personate  the 
character  admirably ;  he  can  be  so  elegant  and  in^^rati- 
ating  in  demeanor,  or  so  dark  and  stormy,  as  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  scene  may  require." 

"  I  can  find  enough  of  that  sort  of  personation  in  real 
life,  without  going  to  see  it  acted  in  plays." 

''  I  see  how  it  is,  Kilby.  You  have  been  the  sport  of 
a  heartless  coquette's  whims  and  caprices,  and  it  lias 
embittered  you  toward  all  the  world  beside.  It  does 
seem  strange  to  me  that  you,  who  are  usually  so  self- 
poised,  so  judicious,  so  little  apt  to  be  blinded  to  your 
own  interests  by  any  undue  ascendency  of  feeling  over 
interest  and  judgment,  should  exhibit  the  weakness  of 
taking  deeply  to  heart  the  desertion  of  a  woman  who 
was  never  worthy  of  you — a  woman  of  scarcely  average 
intelligence,  of  no  remarkable  personal  attractions,  fickle 
and  false ;  a  mere  human  butterfly,  with  about  as  much 
sense  of  moral  responsibility  as  one  of  those  light- winged, 
brainless  insects." 

Lucy  drew  a  hard  breath  through  her  firm-set  teeth, 
a  burning  spot  of  red  on  either  cheek.  She  had  not  an 
instant  to  wait  for  Mr.  Caruthers'  rejoinder : 

'^  You  forget,  Dian,  that  it  is  my  wife  of  whom  you 
are  speaking." 

"  Forget  it !  I  wish  I  could,"  sbe  impatiently  re- 
torted, *'  as  well  as  the  fact  that  she  has  given  the  busy 
tongue  of  scandal  an  excuse  to  prate  of  the  afi*airs  of  a 
family  never  before  debased  by  such  prating.  She  has 
made  our  honored  name  that,  within  my  memory,  never 
knew  a  stain,  a  theme  for  coarse  innuendo  and  dishonor- 
able allusion ;  and  yet  she,  having  found  her  way  to 
the  one  weak  spot  in  your  heart,  which  knowledge  she 
artfully  and  selfishly  turns  to  her  own  advantage,  brands 
your  name  with  infamy ;  and  you  are  too  blind  to  see 
this,  or  too  weak  to  defeat  the  machinations  that  make 


34:8  THE   RIVAL  VOLUJfTEERS  ;   OB, 

you  the  puppet  of  a  light  woman's  will.  Perhaps  no 
one  has  told  you  of  the  rumors  that  are  rife  on  the  street, 
and  have  even  reached  jour  servants'  ears ;  perhaps  no 
one  dares  mention  them  to  jou,  but  I  dare  to  speak  what 
it  is  for  your  interest  to  know.  Eeport  says  tliat  Mrs. 
Carnthers  did  not  leave  the  city  alone.  The  music- 
niaster  with  whom  she  used  to  iiirt  at  every  opportu- 
nity was  seen  to  leave  your  garden  the  very  afcernoon 
she  left  your  house." 

''  Hush  !  Dian,  there  are  some  things  Avhich,  even 
from  a  sister,  I  will  not  bear.  Bring  me  no  lying  ru- 
mors, I  will  not  give  them  a  thought.  Though  appear- 
ances were  a  thousand  times  against  her,  I  would  sooner 
suspect  them  of  deceitfulness'than  suspect  her.  Until 
she  is  proved  faithless — and  such  proof,  in  my  opinion, 
her  worst  enemies  will  never  succeed  in  bringing  to 
light — my  faith  in  her  remains  unshaken." 

"If  you  are  still  so  credulous,  so  ardently  desirous  of 
being  imposed  upon,  that  this  is  the  ultimate  decision 
at  which  you  have  arrived,  why,  even  be  consistent  and 
cherish  your  fond  delusion  tilf  the  clear  light  of  truth 
shows  you  that  it  is  such.  By  all  means  use  every  effort 
to  trace  her  flight ;  and  if  facts  warrant  a  separation,  I 
trust  it  may  be  final,  and  your  release  from  her  toils 
complete.  Ln  the  meantime  I  am  willing  to  do  anything 
in  piy  power  to  make  your  life  more  tolerable  tlian  it 
seems  to  be  at  present.  If  you  desire  ir,  I  will  come 
and  take  charge  of  your  household,  as  I  did  before  this 
ill-starred  marriage  of  yours." 

"  Thank  you ;  I  am  at  home  but  little,  my  servants 
are  trustworthy  and  efficient;  and  as  for  company,  I 
have  neither  time  nor  inclination  for  it,  and  iiave^the 
less  need  for  any  one  to  preside  at  table  or  in  the  draw- 
ing-room." 

"  The  time  was,  Ivilby,  when  my  society  was  not  irk- 
some to  you ;  but  I  will  not  speak  of  that,  since  it  an- 


THE  BLACK   PI.UME   niFLES.  349 

noYS  you.  The  time  may  come  when  a  sister's  presence 
Avill  be  not  only  tolerated  but  welcomed.  Since  you 
will  not  come  with  nie,  I  must  go  without  you.'' 

She  left,  and  her  brother  returned  to  the  employment 
her  entrance  had  interrupted. 

Tears,  wrung  forth  by  the  violent  alternations  of  feel- 
ing occasiond  by  the  above  dialogue,  fell,  drop  by  drop, 
from  Lucy's  brimming  eyes.  The  conflicting  emotions  hy 
which  she  was  agitated  it  is  impossible  to  describe. 
Tiie  sister's  scathing  strictures  had  cut  her  to  the  quick, 
~but  their  effect  had  been  greatly  softened  by  the  bro- 
ther's chivalrous  interposition  in  her  defence.  "  Xo  mat- 
ter how  much  appearances  may  be  against  me,"  she 
said  to  herself,  '*  lie  sooner  trusts  me  than  them  ;  and 
liis  faith  in  me  strengthens  my  faith  in  myself.  I  can- 
not see  my  way  very  clearly,  or  very  far  in  advance ; 
but  so  far  as  I  do  see  it,  I  will  walk  as  circumspectly  as 
though  he  were  with  me  watching  every  step." 

He  was  writing  rapidly  on  a  small-sized  commercial 
sheet  when  the  bell  rang  for  tea.  He  rose,  on  complet- 
ing a  sentence,  and  left  the  room,  locking  the  door  after 
liim,  and  taking  the  key  from  the  lock.  She  was  star- 
tled and  unable  to  account  for  a  procedure  so  unusual. 
"Waiting  until  the  sound  of  his  retreating  footsteps  had 
ceased  on  the  stairs,  she  emerged  from  her  place  of  con- 
cealment and  approached  the  slab  at  which  he  had  been 
writing.  Piles  of  United  States  bonds,  easily  rjcog- 
nizable  through  their  prevailing  tint  of  green  ;  notes  and 
acceptances,  tiled  in  bands  of  labelled  paper ;  certificites 
of  railway  and  mining  shares,  Avith  other  documents  of 
kindred  stamp,  sufficiently  explained  the  reason  for  his 
leaving  the  door  securely  fa-tened,  little  drea  niiig 
whom  he  had  thus  made  prisoner.  This  was  the  hour 
on  which  she  had  calculated  for  escape  ever  sincj  his 
entering  the  room,  and  by  how  slight  a  mischanc3  had 
her  purpose  been  thwarted.     If  he  stopped  to  look  at 


350  THE   RIVAL  VOLTJNTEEBS ;   OB, 

\ 

the  evening  paper  after  tea,  as  was  his  cnstotn,  it 
would  make  the  hour  late  for  her  to  be  out  in  the 
streets  alone.  She  was  anxious  and  restless,  the  sense 
of  close  imprisonment  growing  momentarily  more  op- 
pressive, when  her  eye  Avas  caught  by  the  following 
composition,  on  which  Mr.  Caruthers  had  been  engaged 
when  interrupted  by  the  summons  to  tea  : 

'•' Deseription  of  Personal  Appearance. 

"Mrs.  Caruthers  is  five  feet  three  inches  in  height, 
with  light,  curly  hair,  verj^  pleasant  blue  eyes,  a  clear 
complexion,  and  a  color  in  the  cheeks  not  dark  enough 
to  be  called  red;  a  straight  nose;  small,  white,  even 
teeth,  and  dimples  in  cheek  and  chin.  She  is  low  spoken, 
and  slenderl}^  built,  having  sloping  shoulders  and  a 
long,  slim  hand  and  foot.  She  walks  without  any 
swinging  of  the  arms,  or  superfluous  movement  of  any 
sort,  with  an  easy,  gliding  motion,  like  one  who  gets  over 
the  ground  with  the  least  possible  eflfort.  Her  dress 
I  cannot  describe,  as  I  find  nothing  missing  from  the 
wardrobe  she  left  beliind  at  the  time  of  her  mysterious 
disappearance  ;  but  her  tastes  were  elegant  and  correct 
in  matters  of  dress." 

Lucy  turned  away  with  a  smile  half  sad  half  pleasur- 
able on  a  face  too  pale  by  far  to  tally  with  the  above 
description. 

"However  much  they  may  strive  to  prejudice  him 
against  me,  he  still  thinks  me  worth  the  seeking," 
thought  she,  "  and  I  will  never  prove  less  worthy  than 
now." 

She  walked  toward  the  mantel,  when  a  n6w  painting 
hanging  above  it  attracted  her  gaze ;  it  was  a  full-length 
portrait  of  herself  in  bridal  attire.  It  must  have  been 
copied  from  the  photograph  recently  taken,  she  assured 
hei*self,  and  colored  from  a  miniature  on  ivory,  painted 
several  years  previoxislyi 


■ffiE  BLACK  PLtmE  RIFLES.  851' 

Passing  on  to  tlie  bureau,  she  pressed  the  spring  to 
the  satin-wood  box,  exquisitely  carved  and  poli.shed,  in 
which  her  jeweh;y  bad  formerly  been  kept,  when  it  flew 
open,  disclosing  its  contents  more  neatly  and  methodi- 
cally arranged  than  they  had  been  at  the  time  of  her 
departure.  The  ticking  of  her  watch  attested  the  fact 
of  it  having  been  -wound  up.  A  gold  hair-pin  that  she 
had  left  minus  several  pendants,  had  been  skilfully 
repaired  ;  and  a  safety-chain  added  to  a  pearl  brooch. 
There,  fastened  by  a  clasp  of  quaint  workmanship,  was 
the  string  of  gold  beads  that  her  mother's  mother  had 
worn,  and  that  she  had  sometimes  used  entw^ined  with 
strings  of  pearls  to  adorn  her  own  braided  tresses.  She 
drewr  the  beads  about  her  neck,  and  fastened  the  clasp 
at  her  throat ;  but  after  a  minute's  consideration,  un- 
clasped and  removed  the  acquisition  wiih  such  alacrity 
secured,  saying  to  herself: 

*'  It  w^ould  be  missed,  and  one  of  the  servants  sus- 
pected of  purloining  it.  Even  if  it  is  rightfully  my  own, 
it  is  not  right  that  I  should  take  it  in  a  way  which 
would  subject  others  to  wrongful  suspicion.  It  is  easier, 
as  I  have  learned  through  bitter  teaching,  to  take  the 
first  wrong  step  than  to  retrace  it,  or  to  tell  where  it 
may  lead." 

Closing  the  box  resolutely,  she  returned  to  her  position 
behind  the  bed-curtains. 

The  minutes  passed  slowly ;  but  after  an  absence  that, 
seemed  to  her  much  longer  than  it  really  was,  Mr. 
Caruthers  came  back  to  the  room,  and  seating  himself 
at  the  slab,  read  over  what  he  had  written,  and  threw 
it  aside  with  the  muttered  comment: 
.  "  Too  fine  by  half.  What  do  they  know  or  care  of  a 
lady's  gait,  or  her  taste  in  dress  ?" 

Taking  a  fresh  sheet,  he  wrote  awhile,  then  restoring 
his  papers  to  their  envelope,  left  the  room  with  them. 
She  waited  until  she  heard  him  leave  the  house,  before 


353  THE   EITAL  VOLtr^"TEERS  ;    OR, 

venturing  down-stairs.  The  hall  was  very  light  as  she 
stole  noiselessly  across  it.  Caiuiouslv  drawing  back  the 
spring  lock,  she  turned  the  handle,  when,  with  a  creak, 
the  door  swung  back  on  its  hinges  ;  closing  it  hastily, 
she  lied  through  the  vestibule  not  an  instant  too  soon, 
as  she  was  convinced  by  the  cry  of  a  startled  servant : 

"  Who's  dere  a-taniperin'  wid  dat  lock  ?'' 

The  clock  from  a  neighboring  church  tower  was 
striking  eight  as  she  gained  the  sidewalk.  As  she 
peered  apprehensively  at  the  dark  shadows  cast  by  pro- 
jecting angles  and  broad  curves,  she  felt  that  the  perils 
of  her  rash  undertaking  were  by  no  means  safely  over- 
passed. If  the  omnibus  office  could  but  be  reached,  the 
worst  would  be  over ;  for  by  the  conveyance  there  pro- 
curable, she  would  be  set  down  within  a  few  doors  of 
lier  boarding  house.  The  office  was  reached,  her  foot 
on  the  step,  her  hand  on  the  latch,  when  the  sound  of 
voices  in  loud  and  angry  altercation  within  caused  her 
to  hesitate  and  look  through  a  glass  panel  of  the  door 
to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  disturbance.  Three  or 
four  young  men  sat  smoking  on  a  bench  inside,  while 
near  the  middle  of  the  room,  two  men  of  maturer  years 
stood  confronting  each  other  with  mutual  interchange 
of  looks  anything  but  conciliatory. 

Said  the  shorter  but  more  powerfully  framed  of  the 
two : 

"Unless  the  extinction  of  slavery  is  to  be  the  price  of 
our  conquests,  not  one  snap  of  my  linger  would  I  give 
for  victories  so  fruitless.  War,  still  war,  shall  be  our 
battle-cry — who  cries  peace  shall  find  that  for  him  there 
is  no  peace — till  this  corroding  rust  is  scoured  from  our 
national  escutcheon.  You  say,  sir,  that,  considering  our 
superioi'ity  of  men  and  means  over  those  of  the  insur- 
gents, our  arms  have  not  been  proportionately  blessed. 
Granted;  but  why  has  disaster  so  often  resulted  from 
our  best-planned  campaigns?     I  reply,  because  there 


THE   BLACK   PLUifE   EIFLES.  353 

are  traitors  at  the  IN'orth  in  league  with  traitors  at  the 
Soutii — because  the  Xorth  does'not  band  itself  together 
as  one  man,  and  say  to  this  accursed  institution,  'Die 
tliou  shalt,  and  die  thou  must.'  "We  must  wipe  out 
this  foul  stain  before  we  can  look  for  a  blessing  from  on 
high." 

"  AYhat  would  you  have,  in  Heaven's  name  ?  A 
larger  human  sponge  than  the  couple  of  hundred  thou- 
sands we  have  already  used  up  in  this  fierce  fratricidal 
strnggle?  Can  it  be  that  the  great  'I  Am,'  of  mercy 
infimte,  withholds  his  blessing  that  myriad  hecatombs 
of  fresh  victims  be  offered  up  in  sacrifice  ?" 

"  You  are  ready  enough  with  your  arguments  ;  but  I, 
for  one,  am  for  no  temporizing  policy  with  rebels,  no 
compromise  with  traitors.  ThTs  wricked  and  causeless 
rebellion,  and  slavery  with  it,  must  be  crushed  at  all 
costs  and  all  hazards.     Eight  must  prevail  in^the  end." 

"In  the  end,  I  grant  you,  but  the  end  is  not  yet. 
While  human  nature  is  what  it  is,  we  must  cultivate 
broader  and  more  catholic  charities.  Eeligious  tole- 
rance—our fathers  learned  that  lesson  through  many 
bitter  teachings  of  Providence,  and  to  us  have  trans- 
mitted it — is  not  the  only  kind  of  tolerance  we  have 
need  to  know  and  to  practise,  so  long  as  the  rain  de- 
scends on  the  just  and  the  unjust,  and  the  tares  are  per- 
mitted to  grow  with  the  wheat." 

"  Then  we  are  to  let  traitoi^s  in  arms  work  out  their 
designs  in  subverting  the  best  government  the  world 
ever  saw,  through  fear  of  rooting  up  the  wheat  with 
the  tares;  that  is,  through  fear  of  harming  the  true 
and  loval  men  undoubtedly  to  be  found  under  rebel 
rule."  "^ 

"  You  purposely  pervert  my  statement,  knowmg,  as 
you  do,  that  I  canie  home  on  brief  furlough,  to  be  cuied 
of  wounds  gained  not  in  crying  '  War,  war !'  but  in  do- 
ing my  duty  where  hard  blows  are  struck  and  brave 


354  THE  RI7AL  volunteers;  OB, 

lives  are  risked  and  lost  in  the  nation's  service ;  know- 
ii)i?,  too,  that  within  the  Aveek  I  rejoin  rav  regiment. 
Fil'st  and  foremost,  down  with  the  rebellion,  say  I,  and 
then  down  with  everything,  North  and  South,  that 
stimds  in  the  way  of  a  reconstruction  of  the  glorious  old 
Union,  under  the  grand  old  Constitution  our  fathers 
framed." 

One  of  the  smokers  hissed ;  a  second  cried,  "  Down 
with  all  Copperheads ;"  and,  incited  by  these  demon- 
strations, the  shorter  of  the  two  speakers  suddenly,  with 
his  clenched  fist,  aimed  a  blow  at  the  taller,  who,  by  a 
movement  as  sudden,  and  far  more  dexterous,  parried 
the  blow,  and,  seizing  his  assailant  by  both  arms,  pin- 
ioned them  in  a  vice-like  gripe  to  his  sides. 

Lucy  stopped  to  see  no  more.  Convinced  that  this 
was  no  place  for  a  woman  to  await  a  conveyance,  she 
sped  swiftly  down  the  narrow  street  and  joined  the 
throng  passing  down  a  broad,  well-lighted  thoroughfare. 
Soon  leaving  this,  she  entered  an  alley  lighted  at  either 
corner  by  a  single  lamp,  and  directly  after  became 
aware  of  following  footsteps,  very  nearly  keeping  pace 
with  her  own.  Whether  she  hastened  or  retarded  her 
steps,  those  of  the  person  behind  her  accommodated 
themselves  to  her  movements.  She  crossed  to  the  op- 
posite sidewalk,  and  her  unknown  pursuer  unhesitat- 
ingly copied  her  example. 

\Vith  a  sigh  of  relief,  she  passed  into  a  street  brilliant 
with  lights  from  shop  and  lamp,  where  she  felt  the  pro- 
tecting influence  of  numerous  respectable-looking  pe- 
destrians. Among  the  numerous  footfalls  she  could  no 
longer  distinguish  that  of  her  pursuer,  and  was  about  to 
congratulate  herself  on  having  escaped  him,  when  a 
man  took  and  maintained  his  place  by  her  side.  When 
passing  beneath  a  street  lamp,  she  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing a  view  of  his  face,  and  recognized  Dr.  Irlingham.^ 

Had  he  also  recognized  her  ?  was  the  question  she  in- 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  855 

stantly  asked  herself;  and,  in  the  interest  of  M. 
Meurice,  was  he  seeking  to  trace  her  to  her  place  of 
abode  ?  If  so,  she  must  leave  no  means  untried  fur 
eluding  his  ])iirsnit.  But  what  possible  means  of  escape 
were  at  her  disposal  ?  At  first,  she  could  see  none  which 
gave  the  slightest  promise  of  proving  effectual. 

In  passing  a  church,  a  stream  of  persons  poured  forth 
from  its  vestry.  Adroitly  separating  herself  from  her 
attendant,  she  passed  rapidly  along  in  the  shade  of  the 
building,  thus  placing  a  string  of  passers-by  between 
herself  and  him.  A  new  discovery  :  but  a  short  dis- 
tance in  front  of  her  walked  one  to  whom,  if  driven  to 
extremity,  her  appeal  for  aid  would  not  be  made  in 
vain. 

Her  pursuer,  baffled  for  but  brief  time,  resumed  his 
place  at  lier  side. 

''  Take  my  arm,"  he  said,  peremptorily,  ''  or  you  will 
be  lost  in  the  crowd." 

Slie  no  longer  delayed  her  appeal  to  the  tall,  loose- 
iointed  individual  who,  with  shambling  gait,  was  making 
his  way  before  them. 

"  I  am  out  later  than  I  intended  to  be,  Mr.  Moodey, 
having  been  unexpectedly  detained  ;  may  I  walk  with 
you  as  far  as  you  are  going  my  way  ?" 

"  In  course  you  may,  and  as  much  further  as  you've  a 
mind  to,"  was  the  hearty  response.  "  Golly,  I'm  right 
down  glad  to  see  you,  and  no  mistake.  I  guess  we'd 
better  lock  arms,  its  easier  to  keep  step." 

She  complied  with  the  suggestion,  and  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  Dr.  Irlingham  pass  them,  without  turn- 
ing his  head,  and  disappear  around  the  nearest  corner: 

Ko  more  danger  of  seeing  him  again  to-night,  thought 
she  ;  for  he  must  hurry  home  and  prepare  to  personate 
the  "  Social  Bandit "  he  acts  to  the  life. 

'•  Ihave  something  particular  to  say  to  you,"  confiden- 
tially imparted  Mr.  Moodey  to  his  companion,  "  as  soon  as 


356  THE    RIVAL   volunteers;    OR, 

ever  vre  can  git  out  of  all  this  hubbub  ;  here  is  a  nice 
still  street,  wliat  do  you  say  to  turning  down  it  ?" 

"  It  is  our  nearest  way,  and  I  am  'too  tired  to  walk 
fartlicr  than  I  can  help,"  she  languidly  assented. 

''I've  been  sorry  more'n  fifty  times  that  I  sent  yoa 
avray  from  our  house  ;  but  I'll  tell  you  wliat,  you  come 
back,  and  we'll  make  up  as  good  as  pie.  Don't  you 
mind  nothing  about  the  rig  I  run  on  when  I  was  put  out 
with  you  for  giving  me  the  mitten  right  straight  oli'  the 
reel.  That  was  all  bunkum  ;  I  don't  care  no  more  for 
Pawliney  Hotchkiss  tlian  I  do  for  the  fifth  wheel  of  a 
coach.  Her  temper  is  the  reg'lar  kyan  pepper  sort,  and 
she's  a  real  tyke,  if  there  ever  was  one.  As  for  Phebe 
Shoots,  Gelly  got  her  down  to  our  house  to  stay  a  few 
days,  and  she  was  so  highty-tighty,  and  so  full  of  lier 
pranks,  that  I  couldn't  get  a  minit's  peace  of  my  life, 
and  dropped  her  like  a  hot  potater.  Money  isn't  all, 
and  smartness  isn't  all,  when  a  man  is  looking  out  for  a 
wife ;  it's  something  to  find  one  that  can  be  peaceable 
and  contented  at  home,  without  forever  scooting  round 
the  streets  to  show  herself  off,  and  putting  on  the  purties 
for  outsiders,  and  all  in  the  dumps  if  something  in  the 
company  line  isn't  going  on.  I'm  willing  to  take  all  the 
blame  to  myself  for  what  lias  come  and  gone.  I  never 
seriously  made  up  my  mind  to  git  married  before ;  and, 
as  it  was  ruther  late  in  the  day,  I  hadn't  no  time  to  lose, 
and  was  in  such  a  consarned  linrry  that  I  went  a-head 
like  a  down-river  steamboat,  a-gitting  the  horse  before 
the  cart,  a-popping  the  question  before  the  sparking  had 
been  gone  through  with  at  alL  Xow,  if  you  are  willing 
to  start  fair,  and  try  it  all  over  aorain,  I  be.  Wiiat  do 
you  say  r 

"  That  I  thank  you  for  your  good  opinion  of  me  ;  and, 
that  you  have  shown  me  so  much  real  kindness,  it  deeply 
pains  me  to  " 

"You  needn't  go  no  further.     I  don't  owe  you  no 


THE   BLACK   PLUME  MFLES.  357 

grudge,  but  I  don't  want  to  hear  all  that  lockram  over 


again." 


They  walked  on  in  silence. 

'*  I  leave  you  here,"  she  said,  withdrawing  her  hand 
from  Ill's  arm,  on  reaching  a  place  whence  their  separate 
ways  diverged. 

"  I  don't'inind  going  out  of  mj  way,  if  it  will  oblige 
you,  Lucy." 

She  was  touched  by  this  kindly  offer,  after  the  second 
repulse  with  which  she  had  been  compelled  to  check  his 
advances,  and  declined  his  escort  in  grateful  terms. 

"  It's  awful  lonesome  down  to  our  house,  Lucy,  won't 
you  come  and  see  us  sometimes  ?" 

''  Whether  I  come  or  not,  Mr.  Moodey,  I  shall  never 
forget  your  kindness  or  cease  to  be  thankful  for  it." 

There  was  something  really  pathe'.ic  in  the  tone  of 
his  exclamation,  "  It's  all  over  with,  now,"  as  she  turned 
from  him,  leaving  him  to  pursue  his  way  alone. 

On  reaching  her  boarding-house,  Miss  Lunt  followed 
her  up  to  her  room. 

"  You  are  out  late  to-night.  Miss  Searls." 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  unexpectedly  detained." 

"  Detained,  where  ?  if  I  may  make  bold  to  ask.'' 

"  At  a  house  where  I  went  hoping  to  obtain  some 
articles  of  value  that  once  belonged  to  my  mother." 

"You  withhold  name,  street,  and  number,  designedly 
so,  I  suppose." 

Lucy  bowed ;  Miss  Lunt's  manner  was  not  calcu- 
lated to  invite  confidence,  being  cold,  prying,  suspi- 
cious. 

"  I  do  not  like  to  see  young  persons  guardedly  cautious 
of  betraying  any  clue'^to  their  past  life,"  she  dryly  re- 
marked ;  "  it  looks  as  though  there  were  something  in 
that  life  that  wouldn't  bear  the  light  of  inquiry.  Did 
you  come  home  alone?" 

"  I  had  a  friend  with  me  a  part  of  the  way." 


858  THE   RIVAL   VOLUNTKEES;    OE, 

"  Ah  !  1  may  be  more  fortunate  in  my  present  qnes- 
tion  perhaps.     Who  was  this  friend  ?" 

"  The  man  from  whose  shop  I  obtained  work  beforo 
I  came  here." 

^'  Umph  !  where  did  you  live  when  you  worked  for 
him  ?" 

*'  I  boarded  with  himself  and  sister." 

*'  He  was  a  single  man,  then." 

''  He  was." 

"Why  did  you  not  continue  to  procure  work  from 
him  after  you  came  here  ?" 

Lucy  hesitated,  embarrassed  for  a  reply. 

''  Because  I  wished  the  acquaintance  between  vlq  to 
be  wholly  broken  ofi'." 

"Why  was  that?" 

"  Because  he  had  professed  for  me  a  regard  I  could 
never,  under  any  circumstances,  have  reciprocated  ;  and 
offered  me  lover-like  attentions  I  was  forced  to  dis- 
courage." 

'•  You  mean  that  he  made  you  an  offer  of  marriage." 

"  I  do." 

"  Was  he  respectable  ?" 

"  Entirely  so." 

"  Tlien  I  should  most  certainly  advise  you  to  en- 
courage S  renewal  of  his  offer,  and  that  with  as  little 
delay  as  circumstances  will  admit  of." 

"  Impossible." 

"  Give  me  his  name,  and  I  may  be  able  to  bring  about 
a  better  understanding  between  you." 

"  I  thank  you  ;  but  there  is  already  a  perfect  under- 
standing between  us." 

"  Then  I  have  nothing  more  to  say  on  that  point ;  but, 
on  another,  I  have  considerable  to  sa_y.  Have  you  any 
friend  to  whom  you  can  refer  me  for  assurance  that  your 
previous  life  has  been  irreproachable  ?" 

"  I  am  not,  at  present,  in  communication  vnth.  any 


THE    BLACK    PLUME   RIFLES.  859 

of  niy  friends,"  Lucy  sadly  replied,  her  eyes  filling 
witli  the  bitter  sense  of  humiliation  this  question  con- 
veyed. 

^'  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it ;  for,  without  a  satisfactory 
reference  of  the  sort,  you  cannot  longer  remain  with  me. 
I  have  had  a  long  talk  with  Dr.  Croyland,  who  thought 
you  might  have  some  explanation  to  make  that  might 
justify  my  keeping  you,  but,  as  you  vouchsafe  not  a 
word  in  your  own  vindication,  you  must  submit  to  the 
natural  consequences  of  such  reserve.  I  shall  tell  the 
seamstress  who  has  applied  for  your  room  that  she  can 
have  it  later  in  the  week.  I  never  was  called  a  hard 
landlady  by  any  of  my  boarders ;  but  the  respectability 
of  my  house  is  all  I  have  to  depend  upon,  and,  even  if 
eo  inclined,  I  could  not  aiford  to  be  lenient  where  that 
is  concerned." 

Lucy  was  too  much  overwhelmed  by  this  new  and 
unexpected  blow  to  make  any  attempt  at  self-justi- 
fication, and,  serenely  self-approving.  Miss  Lunt  with- 
drew. 


CHAPTEE    XXIII. 

CONCLUSION. 

Still  again  our  homeless  outcast  has  been  successful 
in  obtaining  shelter,  and  the  employment  by  which  she 
hopes  to  earn  her  bread. 

In  a  small,  lonely,  out-of-the-way.dwelling,  at  the  foot 
of  a  shelving  bluff  overlooking  the  river,  sat  Lucy  Searls, 
busily  engaged  in  stitching  on  the  visor  to  a  soldier's 
cap.  A  straw  matting  on  the  floor,  a  bed  in  the  corner, 
a  braided  rug  on  the  hearth,  a  looking-glass  in  rudely 


360  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

carved  walnut  frame,  a  light-stand  and  a  con  pie  of  cane- 
seated  chairs,  completed  the  furniture  of  the  room  she 
occupied. 

The  door  opened,  and  a  woman  of  lank  and  measure 
frame,  with  features  sliii veiled  by  age,  but  eyes  still 
bright,  sharp  and  piercing,  came  in  and  sat  down  near 
a  window  looknigout  upon  a  limestone  ledge,  its  monoto- 
nous surface  here  and  there  diversified  by  a  stunted, 
leafless  shrub  protruding  from  cleft  or  crevice. 

*•  You  work  too  steadily,  Miss  Searls ;  you  will  soon 
wear  yourself  out  at  this  rate.  You  cough  more 
than  is  good  for  you,  and  you  haven't  so  wholesome  a 
color  on  your  face  as  you  had  that  first  night  you  came 
here,  and  had  such  hard  work  to  persuade  me  to  take 
you  in,  which  isn't  to  be  wondered  at,  considering  that 
Tm  timersome  and  sliy  of  stragglers,  living  all  by  my- 
self, so  far  from  neighbors.  Harboring  strangers  is  what 
I  never  did  make  a  practice  of;  but  I  haven't  been 
sorry  for  breaking  through  my  rule  this  time,  for  you  are 
quiet  and  easy  satisfied,  and  don't  bring  no  end  of  com- 
pany to  nasty  up  the  steps  and  scraper,  and  track  dirt 
into  the  liouse.  I'd  as  lives  have  you  here  as  not,  as 
long  as  I  don't  lose  nothing  by  it ;  and  that  is  why  1 
tell  you  that  you  mustn't  stick  to  work  from  morning 
till  night,  day  in  and  day  out,  if  you  don't  want  to  make 
yourself  down  sick  abed.  What's  to  become  of  you, 
then  ?  I'm  sure  the  poor-house,  or  them  genteeler  places 
they  call  houses  of  refidge  for  indigent  females,  wouldn't 
suit  the  like  of  you." 

Lucy's  heart  sank ;  but  she  had  already  learned,  in 
her  brief  experience  of  struggling  for  a  livelihood,  to 
make  no  appeals  to. compassion  on  account  of  her  com- 
paratively destitute  and  dependent  condition  ;  least  of 
all,  would  she  have  betrayed  to  the  woman  who  had 
long  been  accustomed  to  make  the  pleasure  of  petty 
accumulated  gains  the  primary  object  of  her  life,  any 


THE   BLACK   PLUME   KIFLES.  361 

signs  of  apprehension  regarding  her  own  ability  for  self- 
maintenance. 

'•  By  sewing  all  the  time,  excepting  at  dnslc,"  resumed 
the  Widow  Sinalhnain,  in  a  cold,  hard,  calculating  tone, 
''  you  just  make  ont  to  earn  two  shillings  a-day,  and  that 
just  pays  your  board.  Where  are  your  clothes  to  come 
from?  I  don't  wish  to  be^a-meddling  with  what  ain't 
none  of  my  business,  but  I  must  say  tliat  I  should  be  a 
deal  easier  in  my  mind  if  I  could  see  a  little  clearer  how 
you  are  to  pay  your  way." 

Lucy  gave  her  needle  so  vehement  a  thrust  that  it 
snapped  short  oii'  in  the  resistant  leatlier. 

"  There,  child,  now  see  what  you  have  done.  You 
must  learn  to  be  more  careful ;  for  even  the  breaking 
of  a  needle  is  no  light  matter  when  a  person  hasn't  the 
means  for  buying  another." 

"  I  am  not  so  destitute  as  your  words  would  seem  to 
imply.  I  need  no  clothes  or  sewing  materials,  at  pre- 
sent ;  if  I  did,  I  have  the  means  for  procuring  them.  K 
I  can  earn  my  board  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  ;  and  if  I 
should,  now  and  then,  have  to  give  up  work  for  a  few 
days  at  a  time,  you  needn't  be  afraid  of  meeting  with 
any  loss  on  that  account." 

"  You  don't  say  so  1  I'm  a  deal  easier  in  my  mind  to 
know  that  you  ain't  really  obliged  to  live  from  ho,nd  to 
mouth.  I  reckon  you  have  been  used  to  a  profitabler 
trade  than  cap-making,  and  have  laid  by  a  spare  penny 
for  a  rainy  day." 

The  speaker  waited  for  either  a  denial  or  confirmation 
of  her  surmise,  but  this  alhision  to  her  past  life  hid 
awakened  memories  by  wliich  Lucy  was  too  deeply 
moved  to  venture  an  immediate  reply.  When  she  did 
speak,  it  was  in  a  tone  studiously  calm  and  restrained. 

'•I  owe  you  many  thanks,  Mi*s.  Smallmain,  for  year 
kindness  in  procuring  me  work  sufiicient  to  defray  your 

16 


362  THE  RIVAL  volunteers;  or, 

weekly  charges ;  any  small  additional  expenses  I  can  pay 
mj'self." 

''Tliat's  the  host  news  I've  heard  this  many  a  day; 
for  the  fact  is,  I'm  a  little  pinched  to  get  along  in  these 
times  of  high  prices,  when  you  can't  have  sugar  to  your 
sauce,  or  a  gown  to  your  back,  without  eatnig  or  wear- 
ing a  tax  along  witli  it.  If  you've  got  means  to  hender 
ii,  I'm  sure,  after  all  I've  done  for  you,  giving  you  up 
my  best  spare  room,  and  drudging  for  you  as  I  ain't 
used  to  doing  for  nobody,  you  won't  see  me  come  to 
want.  If  I  should  get  really  hard  up,  it's  comforting  to 
know  that  I  could  borrow  a  live-dollar  bill  and  get  out 
of  the  "Q-x.  1  bought  them  candles  you  sent  for,  and 
give  two  of  them  little  ten-cent  greenbacks  and  a  postage 
stamp  for  'em ;  you  might  as  well  fork  over  a  quarter, 
as  I  had  to  go  a  whole  square  out  of  my  way  to  patronize 
the  tallow-man,  and  the  extra  wear  of  shoe-leather  ought 
not  to  come  out  of  me." 

Lucy  drew  out  her  purse,  and  handed  her  creditor  the 
required  amount,  the  last  silver  coin  in  her  possession. 

"  There  is  nothing  like  paying  up  prompt  for  what  a 
body  must  have ;  and  that  is  what  I'm  always  trying  to 
ding  into  my  nephew's  head,"  said  Mrs.  Smallmain,  with 
an  approving  nod  at  her  boarder.  "  I  don't  preach  what 
I  don't  practice  neither.  For  instance,  it's  a  sight  cheaper 
to  buy  flour  by  the  sack  than  by  the  pound,  as  I  have 
done  lately ;  but  I  wouldn't  buy  the  sack  till  I  could 
scrape  together  money  enough  to  j^ay  for  it.  Wal,  I've 
got  enough  now,  into  a  dollar  or  so,  and,  if  you've 
a  mind  to  advance  that  on  your  week's  board,  it  will 
make  matters  all  straight.  Much  obleeged  to  you ;  I 
knew  you  v/ould  be  accommodating  after  all  the  pains 
I've  took  to  help  you  to  an  honest  living.  I've  been 
meaning  to  speak  to  you  about  coffee  ;  it's  got  so  dread- 
ful high  and  skurce  that  I've  concluded  to  use  roasted 
barley  in  place  of  it;  and  tea  has  riz  so  that  I've  been 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  KIFLES.  363 

thinking  of  making  it  out  of  sago  or  spireal — there's  lots 
of  it  np  garret,  if  you  wouldn't  turn  up  your  nose  at 
such  herb  drink." 

"  Whatever  suits  you  will  suit  mo,  Mrs.  Smallmain.'' 

"  I'm  glad  to  SOS  you  so  reasonable  and  considerate. 
If  you'd  only  said,  'I  can  put  up  with  it,'  that  Avould 
have  sounded  kind  of  hash  and  fault-liuding,  and  I 
couldn't  put  up  with  that  nohow.  There  is  one  other 
thing  that  I  might  as  well  mention  novv^  it's  on  my  mind. 
I  agreed  to  do  your  plain  washing,  and  I  won't  back  out 
of  my  agreement ;  but  white  petticoats,  with  tucks  all 
round,  and  serpentine  trimming  into  the  bargain,  I 
won't  sweat  myself  over  for  nobody.  Folks  that  want 
to  rig  up  in  that  style  every  day  may  do  their  own 
starching  and  ironing  for  all  me.  I  should  recommend 
your  buying  moreen,  or  something  of  that  sort,  that  don't 
need  doing  up  every  week." 

"  1  will  attend  to  it  as  soon  as  I  am  a  little  over  my 
hurry  with  this  case  of  caps,  which  I  promised  to  return 
as  soon  as  I  could  possibly  finish  them." 

"  That  will  answer  every  purpose.  You  sec  you  don't 
lose  nothing  by  accommodating  me.  Since  I've  found 
out  that  you  mean  to  do  about  wdiat  is  right,  I  shall  put 
up  with  some  things,  if  they  ain't  quite  so  easy." 

The  speaker  left'the  room,  on  economic  plans  intent, 
and  seated  herself  by  the  kitchen  fire,  too  much  ab- 
sorbed in  her  own  penny-saving  projects  to  listen  to  the 
pleasant  drone  of  the  tea-kettle  humming  on  the  hob. 

It  was  nine  o'clock  when  Lucy  set  her  last  stitch  in 
her  taskwork  for  the  day.  Then  she  took  up  the  news- 
paper— bouglit  of  the  milkboy  twice  a  week,  a  day  old, 
at  secondhand — kindly  loaned  for  her  perusal,  and  tried 
to  interest  herself  in  its  contents ;  but  so  vividly  was 
she  thereby  reminded  of  an  elegantly  furnislied  apart- 
ment wdiere  she  had,  in  times  gone  by,  read  aloud  to  an 
attentive  and  indulgent  listener,  that  an  aching  sense 


364  THE  KivAL  volunteers;  oe, 

of  forlornncss  and  isolation  wcifjclied  down  her  spirits. 
She  was  about  to  lay  the  paper  aside,  when  a  name  that 
seemed  to  burn  through  her  eyes  and  brand  itself  in 
characters  of  lire  npon  her  brain,  caught  her  startled 
gaze.  With  quickened  breath  and  bounding  pulse,  she 
read  as  foUow^s : 

"  Arrest  and  Execution  of  a  French  Spy  in  Coii' 
federate  ^Emjploy. 

"A  man  of  prepossessing  and  even  elegant  appear- 
ance, who  has  been  closely  watched  for  a  month  past, 
has  been  discovered  visiting  our  arsenals,  dock-3'ards, 
camps,  and  fortiiications,  where,  under  the  pretence  of 
being  an  official  inspector  in  the  Federal  service,  he  has 
contrived  to  pick  up  a  vast  amount  of  valuable  informa- 
tion, relating  to  our  means  of  defence,  as  well  as  to  the 
movements  of  our  army  and  gunboat  fleet ;  all  of  which 
information  has  been,  it  now  seems,  regularly  trans- 
mitted to  the  enemy. 

"  Suspicion  reached  its  climax  when  the  aforesaid  in- 
dividual was  detected  in  the  act  of  drawing  a  plan  of 
the  earthworks  intrenching  the  position  held  by  a 
division  of  our  corps,  when  he  was  at  once  arrested  and 
placed  under  guard.  The  search  which  was  imme- 
diately instituted,  brought  to  light  sufficient  evidence 
of  collusion  with  the  enemy  to  subject  him  to  rigorous 
confinement  on  the  accusation  of  being  a  rebel  spy. 

''  Amongst  his  effects  were  found  rough  draughts  of 
letters  addressed  to  various  Confederate  officers,  high 
in  rank,  detailing  the  plans  of  the  southwestern  cam- 
paign, and  suggesting  measures  for  foiling  the  same, 
W'itli  much  additional  matter  tending  to  the  success  of 
the  insurgents  and  to  the  national  disaster. 

'^  Our  informant,  a  gentleman  of  unimpeachable 
veracity  and  high  intelligence,  in  regular   correspon- 


TITE   BLACK   PLUME   EIFLES.  365 

dencG  with  this  journal,  further  learns  that  Arnold 
Clermont,  the  rebel  emissary,  belonged  to  an  influential 
family  of  Normandy,  of  considerable  note  under  the  old 
regime^  but  that  during  the  present  imperial  rule,  his 
estate  was  confiscated  and  himself  exiled,  for  some  poli- 
tical ofience  of  whose  exact  nature  we  are  left  in  igno- 
rance. Thus  it  would  seem  that,  even  in  his  own 
country,  he  was  an  accomplished  and  unscrupulous  in- 
trigant. 

"  For  a  year  after  coming  to  this  State,  he  supported 
himself  under  another  name,  probably  assumed  from 
motives  of  family  pride,  by  giving  lessons  in  music ;  he 
having  been  previously  an  amateur  pianist  of  no  mean 
proficiency. 

"  The  latter  part  of  the  year  1860,  and  the  whole  of 
the  succeeding  one,  he  passed  in  Xew  Orleans,  where 
he  did  military  duty  in  the  City  Guard,  with  the  rank 
of  brevet  major,  and  where  also  he  joined  a  secret  order 
of  knighthood  jjledged  to  the  overthrow  of  the  present 
Government,  and  to  the  established  supremacy  of  the 
so-called  Confederacy. 

"  Sometime  during  the  past  year,  he  made,  under  an 
assumed  name,  and  in  violation  of  his  sentence  of  per- 
petual exile,  a  short  visit  to  his  native  land ;  but  a 
letter  from  a  southern  ofiicer,  incautiously  directed  to 
his  real  address,  placed  him  under  the  surveillance  of 
the  police,  from  which  he  escaped  by  speedy  flight. 

''  So  clear  and  conclusive  was  the  evidence  of  his 
guilt,  that,  after  being  tried  by  court-martial,  sentence 
of  death  was  passed  against  him  ;  and  he  has,  ere  this, 
paid  the  penalty  of  his  crimes.  May  the  summary 
manner  in  which  justice  was  awarded  his  deserts  act  as 
a  warning  to  others  suspected  of  treasonable  intercourse 
witli  the  enemy. 

"A  certain  M.D.,  of  wide-spread  notoriety  in  his 
profession,  was  so  deeply  implicated  in  the  atfair  that 


SdB  THE   EITAL   TOLUNTEEBS  ;    OS, 

his  arrest  was  ordered ;  but  on  instituting  search  for  the 
culprit,  it  "vv-as  discovered  that  he  had  suddenly  de- 
camped, leaving  his  tradesmen's  bills  unpaid,  and  nu- 
merous creditors  minus  their  dues.  His  name  v:q 
refrain  from  divulging,  for  the  present,  as  the  direction 
of  his  flight  is  more  than  suspected,  and  those  "who 
have  tlie  matter  in  charge  do  not  yet  despair  of  effect- 
ing his  arrest." 

*' Thank  Heaven,  I  had  no  hand  in  it,"  ejaculated 
Lucy,  as  with  eager,  yet  shrinking  gaze  she  read  the 
article  to  its  iinal  word ;  ^'  but,  right  or  wrong,  I  can- 
not mourn  for  him." 

For  a  half  hour  she  sat  motionless,  thinking  over  the 
change  thus  effected  in  her  own  prospects,  and  the  new 
line  of  conduct  now  open  for  her  to  pursue. 

"  There  is  no  longer  any  valid  reason  for  withholding 
any  portion  of  the  truth  from  Mr.  Caruthers,"  she  de- 
cided ;  "  and  when  he  knows  all,  I  cannot  think  he  will 
give  me  up  ;  it  would  be  too  terrible.  I  cannot  go  to 
him,  it  would  seem  too  much  like  claiming  in  his  home 
a  right  which  is  not  mine  to  claim,  but  I  can  write." 

She  lost  no  time  in  carrying  this  resolve  into  effect. 
All  sense  of  fatigue  was  lost  in  the  trembling  anxiety 
with  which  she  indited  the  following : 

''  Dear  Mr.  Caruthers  : — Xow  that  I  am  free  to 
explain  to  you  the  cruel  combination  of  circumstances 
that  drove  me  from  the  happiest  of  homes,  I  am  very 
anxious  to  see  you,  and  to  explain.  When  you  know 
how  I  have  been  tried,  and  all  I  have  suffered,  working 
for  my  bread,  as  I  never  was  tauglit  to  do,  with  no  one 
to  be  glad  if  1  succeeded  or  sorry  if  1  failed,  and  these 
heavy  secrets  a  dead  weight  on  my  spirits  all  the 
time,  I  hope  you  will  not  blame  me  for  taking  the  only 
coui'se  that  I  thought  right,  and  that  promised  to  securo 
your  safety. 


THE  BLACK  PLUaXE  BITLES.  367 

"Ev&n  thougli  I  can  plead  no  claim  to  your  in- 
dulgence, save  that  of  friendship  and  your  unpaid 
guardianship  of  a  penniless  orphan,  still  you  cannot 
leave  me  without  a  hearing,  without  being  told  that 
your  desertion  would  place  me  in  a  position  so  cruelly 
lalse  that  I  cannot  look  forward  to  it  with  anything  like 
calmness  or  resignation. 

'•  I  know  that  you  still  care  for  me  by  the  faithfulness 
— it  is  not  wrong  for  me  to  tell  you  this,  now,  nor  how 
hardly  I  have  striven  to  master  such  remembrance — 
with  which  my  thoughts  turn  ever  to  you. 

"  The  time  will  be  long  till  I  see  you  here  in  the 
small  brick  cottage,  at  the  foot  of  Mallow's  Lane, 
which  leads  from  Grove-Spring  Avenue. 

"  I  need  not  write  you  more  as  my  hold  on  health  is 
not  firm  ;  and  I  am  tired  with  sewing  all  day.  Resting 
in  the  assurance  of  soon  meeting  you,  I  await  your 
coming  with  patience." 

She  signed  her  name  simply  "  Lucy  ;"  to  what  other 
could  she  lay  claim ! 

Early  next  morning,  she  posted  the  above  herself, 
awaiting  the  reply  with  a  degree  of  unrestful  impa- 
tience she  vainly  strove  to  overcome.  For  the  first 
time,  the  caps  on  which  she  was  employed  were  not 
neatly  finished ;  and  she  received  Mrs.  Smallmaiu's 
strictures  on  her  bungling  seams  with  an  unafi^ected  in- 
difference that  strongly  moved  the  ire  of  that  notable 
dame. 

One  day,  two,  three,  went  by  without  bringing  any 
tidings  to  the  anxiously  expectant  Lucy  ;  and  she  grew 
sick  with  hope  deferred.  On  the  fourth  day  of  this 
wearing  suspense,  she  was  forced  to  lay  aside  her  work, 
to  close  the  eyes  that  had  been  sleepless  through  the 
previous  night,  and  to  lean  her  achiji^  head  oa  the 
back  of  a  clmir* 


868  THE   HITAL  TOLr^TTEERS;    OR, 

Mrs.  Smallmain  repented  her  of  her  harshness,*  on  see- 
ing tliat  Lucy  was  really  too  ill  to  work,  and  trundling  a 
hard  hair-cloth  sofa  into  her  room,  she  graciously  de- 
voted it  to  her  use.  She  couldn't  help  reflecting,  how- 
ever, in  her  capacity  of  economic  housekeeper,  that  if 
Lucy  couldn't  work,  her  board  would  be  paid  all  the 
same ;  and  that  an  occasional  bowl  of  herb  tea  was  not 
expensive  fare  to  provide. 

On  her  hard  couch  Luc^y  uneasily  reclined,  when  the 
sound  of  a  manly  step,  quick,  firm,  decisive,  in  the  outer 
room,  sent  a  glow  to  her  pale  cheek,  an  eager  light  to 
her  lustreless  eye. 

"  She  is  too  sick  to  see  anybody,  and  she  don't  want 
to  see  no  company  nuther;  she  has  too  much  to  do  when 
she  can  sit  up,  for  wasting  her  time  on  visitors,"  Lucy 
heard,  in  Mrs.  Smallmo.in's  high-pitched,  shrewish  tones; 
"  hows'ever,  I'll  speak  to  her,  and  let  her  know  you  are 
here,  if  you  want  me  to." 

"  Which  is  her  room  ?"  was  the  question  impatiently 
asked. 

'•  That  one ;  I  will  speak  to  her  if  you  are  bent 
on" 

The  door  to  her  room  opened  and  closed.  Mr.  Caru- 
thers  bent  over  her,  raising  her  head  to  his  shoulder  as 
tenderly  as  though  she  had  been  an  ailing  child,  an 
expression  on  his  face  no  woman  could  misinterpret ; 
for  the  moment  her  content  was  boundless.  Eeplacing 
her  head  carefully  on  her  pillows,  he  was  the  first  to 
speak : 

''  Unless  y®u  had  very  good  cause  for  leaving  nie  as 
you  did,  Lucy,  I  shall  not  find  it  easy  to  forgive  the 
anxioty,  the  suspense,  the  agony  of  apprehension  I  have 
suffered  on  your  account.  Then  your  letter — I  was  out 
of  town  when  it  came,  and  only  received  it  on  my  re- 
turn tliis  morning — instead  of  clearing  up  matters,  made 
them  darker  than  ever.    ISTot  wrong  to  tell  me  that  you 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  869 

still  cherish  my  memory;  that's  a  riddle  beyond  my 
guessing.  Entreating  me  not  to  desert  you,  wlien  the 
reverse  has  been  the  case,  and  it  was  yon  who  deserted 
me.  Lucy,  I  never  gave  yon  the  slightest  occasion,  by 
deed,  word  or  thought,  for  writing  to  me  as  you  have 
written." 

"  I  did  not  intend  to  convey  the  impression  that  you 
had.  The  fault  was  wholly  mine ;  I  broke  faith  with 
you,  in  the  first  place,  in  direct  opposition  to  my  own 
better  convictions,  and  " 

"Don't  rake  up  that  old  story;  it's  past  and  for- 
given." 

"  Bear  with  me  this  once,  for  from  tliat  one  false  step 
dates  all  my  misery.  I  thought  I  had  escaped  its  con- 
sequences when  I  found  you  was  willing  to  reinstate 
me  in  your  confidence  and  your  regard,  letting  the  past 
be  as  though  it  had  never  been;  but  the  past  was  not 
BO  easily  to  be  blotted  out.  I  had  suffered  so  severely 
through  the  deceptions  practised  by  M.  Meurice,  as  he 
called  himself,  that  I  had  come  to  abhor  deceit,  what- 
ever guise  it  took,  and  I  did  not  intentionally  deceive 
you  when  I  told  you  " 

Her  abrupt  pause  in  her  sentence  was  caused  by  the 
entrance  of  Mrs.  Smallmain,  who,  knitting-work  in  hand, 
deliberately  seated  herself  by  the  window  commanding 
a  view  of  the  bluff. 

Mr.  Caruthers  turned  toward  her,  pointedly  remark- 
ing, "  I  called  purposely  to  see  this  lady,  madam." 

"  So  I  supposed,  sir.  Don't  stop  to  m!nd  me  ;  go  on 
with  your  talk." 

*'I  beg  your  pardon,  but  as  our  conversation  is  to  be 
strictly  personal,  it  would  be  simply  tedious  to  an  unin- 
terested listener." 

"  ]N'ever  mind  me,  sir.  I'll  resk  being  tedious.  I 
reckon  you  wouldn't  think  I  was  uninterested  if  you  knew 
all  the  pains  I'd  took  to  put  her  in  the  way  of  earning 

16* 


370  THE   EITAL   VOLrNTEEES  ;    OB, 

an  honest  living.  To  be  sure  she  is  kind  o'tuckered  out, 
slicking  so  close  to  work  as  she  has  along  back,  but  it 
will  co;ne  easier  when  she  gets  used  to  it.  She  ain't  tit  to 
,  SCO  nobody  to-dav,  and  if  yon  will  come  out  in  t'other 
room  I  can  convince  yon  that  she  is  getting  along  fust 
rate,  considering  that  cap-making  is  a  new  business  for 
her  ;  and  don't  need  to  put  herself  under  obligations  to 
nobody,  which  is  what  a  young  woman  shouldn't  never 
Btoop  to." 

He  turned  quickly  to  Lucy. 

*'  Have  I  wearied  you  ?" 

*'  Not  in  the  least.'' 

He  rose,  politely  held  open  the  door  for  Mrs.  Small- 
main  to  pass ;  with  a  courteous  wave  of  the  hand  dis- 
missing the  reluctantly  departing  widow  from  further 
attendance. 

'*  What  was  yon  saying,  Lucy,  in  regard  to  not  hav- 
ing intentionally  deceived  me?" 

^'  That  in  telling  you  my  first  marriage  was  not  legally 
bindino',  I  fully  believed  tiiat  I  was  speaking  the  trath, 
as  I  did  but  repeat  the  opinion  of  Lawyer  Anverne  that 
it  was,  to  use  his  own  words,  null  and  void." 

Mr.  Caruthers  looked  doubtingly  at  the  speaker,  as  if 
half  inclined  to  question  her  sanity. 

She  caught  the  look,  and  rightly  interpreted  its  un- 
spoken language. 

"  You  are  mistaken ;  I  have  not  been  crazed  by  my 
trials,  as  you  wili  perceive  when  I  have  told  you  all.  I 
met  M.  ileuriee,  imder  another  name,  at  Lily  Bai'ton's 
birth-night  party  " 

''  Ah  !  it  is  your  foolisli  habit  of  keeping  things  to 
yourselt',  and  acting  on  your  own  judgment,  th.it  is 
always  getting  you  into  trouble.  Why  couldn't  you 
have  put  matters  on  a  right  footing  by  telling  me  of  this 
meeting  at  once  ?" 

*'  Have  patience  and  you  shall  know  why.    I  was  so 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  871 

overcome  on  finding  out  whom  I  had  been  dancing 
with  tliat  I  nearly  fainted,  and  went  up-stairs,  wishing  to 
start  dirccily  for  home ;  but  as  you  were  engaged  in  a 
rubber  at  whist,  I  did  not  wish  to  make  a  commotion  by 
interrupting  the  game ;  and  to  avoid  Monsieur,  decided 
to  remain  in  the  cloak-room  until  you  was  ready  to 
leave.  He  had  the  audacity  to  follow  me  there ;  and  in 
spite  of  my  entreaties  that  he  would  go,  insisted  on  re- 
maining until  I  had  named  a  place  for  a  second  inter- 
View. 

'•  Was  you  so  unwise,  so  beside  yourself,  as  to  accede 
to  such  a  proposal  from  such  a  man  ?" 

"  Consider  my  position ;  locked  in  a  room  with  a  per- 
son to  whom  I  had  just  been  introduced  as  a  stranger; 
one  so  utterly  destitute  of  honor  that  he  was  ready  to 
sacrifice  me,  you,  or  any  other  obstacle  that  came  in  the 
way  of  the  selfish,  inhuman  design  he  had  in  view." 


"  And  that  design  was  what  ?'' 


''  To  extort  money  from  you  through  my  agency ; 
but  I  did  not  know  that  at  the  time.  Let  me  go  on, 
and  you  will  see  how  I  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that 
such  was  the  fact.  He  said  he  had  proofs,  which  he  of- 
fered to  produce  at  our  second  meeting,  fully  establish- 
ing the  validity  of  our  marriage — mine  and  his,  I  mean 
— and  when  I  still  refused  to  appoint  a  place  to  meet 
him,  he  threatened  to  force  you  into  a  hostile  encounter, 
reminding  me  of  the  provisions  you  had  made  by  will 
in  my  behalf,  saying  that  our  second  trip  across  the  At- 
lantic should  be  made  in  better  style  than  the  first. 
Then  he  threw  out  dark  hints  against  your  life,  in  case 
of  your  refusing  to  accept  his  challenge,  and  the  malig- 
nant scowl  on  his  face  when  telling  me  of  a  man  gar- 
roted  in  the  street,  one  dark  night,  from  motives  of  re- 
venge, I  shudder  to  think  of  still." 

The  face  of  her  listener  wore  an  expression  of  indiffer- 
ence nearly  amounting  to  contempt.  - 


372  THE    niVAL   TOLU^^TEERS  ;    OR, 

"I  heave  Jieard  men  talk  before,"  he  said  calmly; 
"  and  have  had  to  deal  with  too  many  crooked  custom- 
ers in  my  day  to  be  easily  scared  by  hard  looks  or 
hard  words  either ;  besides,  your  determined  assassin 
doesn't  threaten,  he  strikes.  "So  you  met  the  villain 
again." 

*•  I  did,  at  the  foot  of  your  garden,  when  he  furnished 
such  clear  proofs  of  our  having  been  really  married  that, 
much  as  I  wished  to  do  so,  I  did  not  dare*^  to  doubt  their 
genuineness ;  and  proposed  that  I  sliould  wring  money 
from  you  to  pay  tlie  price  of  his  silence.  He  little  knew 
me  if  he  supposed  that  by  any  inducement  he  could 
urge  me  into  the  pursuance  of  a  course  so  monstrous,  so 
wholly  unjustifiable  that  it  could  lead  to  nothing  but 
misery  and  wrong  doing." 

"  But  the  proofs :  they  may  seem  less  conclusive  to 
me  than  they  did  to  you.'" 

"  lie  assured  me  that  the  marriage  ceremony,  al- 
though not  solemnized  by  a  regularly  ordained  clergy- 
man, was  binding,  as  it  had  been  sanctioned  by  a  regu- 
larly appointed  justice  of  the  peace.  1  refused  to  credit 
his  mere  assertion,  when  he  invited  me  to  go  witli  him 
for  proof  to  the  Ironside  Hotel,  where  he  introduced  me 
to  Deacon  Brown,  a  townsman  and  neighbor  of  Mr. 
Witherspoon,  who  fully  corroborated  tb^e  statement  of 
M.  Meurice,  and  further  confirmed  its  truth  by  showing 
me  an  affidavit  (whatever  that  may  be)  sworn  to  before 
Abednego  Witherspoon,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  1860." 

"In  what  town  was  this  affidavit  sworn  to?" 

"  I  did  not  see  the  name  of  any  town  on  the  paper 
shown  me  by  Deacon  Brown." 

*•  What  sort  of  a  looking  man  was  this  Brown  ?" 

"  A  short,  thick-set,  broad-shouldered  man,  with  dark, 
bushy  hair,  and  a  deep  scar  over  the  left  e}e,  quite 
near  the  temple." 

Mr.   Caruthers    rose    hastily,   and   drawing  on  his 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   EIPLES.  373 

gloves,  started  for  the  door ;  but  paused  before  reacli- 
ing  it,  detained  by  an  imploring  gesture  from  Lucy. 

*'*  Where  are  you  going  ?" 

"  To  liunt  down  that  story  before  it  is  many  hours 
older." 

'•  But  whatever  you  learn,  you  will  come  back  and 
break  the  news  to  me  yourself;  you  will  not  leave  me 
long  in  suspense  ;  and  you  will  come  yoursdfP 

He  returned  to  the  seat  he  had  just  quitted. 

"  Let  me  tell  you  that,  although  I  am  not  given  to 
making  fine  speeches  to  please  a  lady's  ear,  what  I  say 
I  mean ;  and  I  do  say  that  I  w^ill  leave  no  means  untried 
to  place  you  once  more  in  tlie  home  that  is  as  dreary 
as  all  the  rest  of  the  world  in  your  absence.  If  I  find 
that  there  is  any  foundation  in  fact  for  the  statement 
of  M.  Meurice,  i  will  consult  Auverne  immediately  as 
to  the  practicability  of  your  procuring  a  divorce." 

"  Haven't  I  told  you  ?  M.  Meurice  is  dead,  or  I 
should  not  have  ventured  to  write  you." 

"  Indeed  !  that  simplifies  the  matter  very  materially. 
But  are  you  sure  of  what  you  say  ?" 

"  Please  reach  me  that  newspaper  on  the  stand,  and 
you  shall  see  how  snre." 

Supporting  her  head  on  her  hand,  she  read  aloud  to 
him  the  article  already  transcribed,  remarking  at  the 
conclusion  of  its  perusal : 

"  Clermont  seems  to  have  been  bis  real  name ; 
Meurice  only  an  assumed  one." 

'*  Clermont,"  repeated  Mr.  Caruthers,  "  I  have  heard 
the  name  before.  I  have  it  now  ;  Miss  Barton  stopped 
me  in  the  street  to  tell  me  that  you  had  met  M.  Meurice, 
nnder  the  name  of  Clermont,  at  her  i-)arty ;  but  her 
description  of  his  personal  appearance  did  not  coincide 
with  tiiat  of  Monsieur ;  besides,  I  was  sure  you  would 
have  mentioned  such  an  occurrence  to  me  if  it  had 
actually  taken  place,  and  dismissed  it  from  my  thoughts 
as  too  improbable  for  belief." 


374 

Lncy  was  inattentive  to  this  last  remark,  her  next 
words  proving  that  lier  mind  still  dwelt  upon  a  former 
one. 

"  I  do  not  see  how  the  death  of  M.  Menrice  materi- 
ally simplifies  the  mattor.  I  have  studied  the  Statutes 
of  our  Commonwealth,  which  I  obtained  as  soon  as  I 
could  after  my  second  interview  with  him,  and,  as 
nearh^  as  I  can  make  out,  my  marriage  with  you  was 
not  binding,  if  the  first  was  in  force  at  the  time  the 
second  was  consummated.  1  have  pored  over  this  little 
law  book  hours  and  hours,  when  I  ought  to  have  been 
abed  and  asleep,  and,  oh,  Mr.  Caruthcrs,  I  am  not  your 
wife." 

*' Don't  distress  yourself  in  this  way;  dry  your  eyes; 
leave  everything  to  me,  and  rest  satisfied  that  all  will 
come  right  in  the  end.  If  the  first  ceremony  was  not  in 
accordance  with  due  regulations  of  law,  we  will  go  to 
another  State  and  have  it  quietly  repeated.  Your 
consent  I  take  as  a  matter  of  course  ;  for  you  couldn't 
have  the  heart  to  condemn  me  to  the  probation  of  a 
second  wooing." 

Lucy  was  too  deeply  moved  to  venture  on  speech, 
save  through  the  eloquent  looks  replying  to  his  own. 

"  Is  that  man  an  acquaintance  of  your'n  ?"  tartly 
inquired  Mrs.  Smallmain,  soon  after  "j^Ir.  Caruthers' 
departure. 

"  He  is  a  highly  valued  friend,"  laconically  responded 
Lucy,  who  was  strongly  desirous  of  being  left  to  the 
undisturbed  luxury  of  her  own  meditations. 

*'  I  needn't  ask  you  to  tell  me  who  he  is,  though  you 
hadn't  the  manners  to  introduce  me ;  and  said  plain 
enough,  under  my  own  roof,  too,  that  my  room  was 
better  than  my  company,"  spitefully  announced  the 
slighted  widow.  "  I  know  him  by  sight,  no  thanks  to 
nobody ;  for  I've  seen  him  at  my  nephew^'s,  the  nephew 
that  you  arc  making  caps  for,  the  nephew  that  hires  his 
stove  of  Mr.  Carutners.     A  powerful  rich  man  he  is 


THE  BLACK  PLUME  EIFLES.  375 

too,  and  lives  in  such  a  grand  big  house,  that  jou  could 
put  the  whole  of  this  one  in  his  best  company  room  on 
the  fust  floor.  It  strikes  me  that  he  is  an  odd  friend  for 
a  young  woman  that  makes  caps  at  a  shilling  apiece,  to 
Lave.  I'll  tell  you  what,  poor  sewing  girls  shouldn't 
make  rich  acquaintances ;  it  looks  bad,  ic  makes  them 
feel  above  their  station,  and  it  don't  turn  out  well." 

"  I  supposed  that  as  long  as  I  paid  my  board-bill 
promptly,  and  conformed  to  the  strictest  rules  of  pro- 
priety, 1  might  be  permitted  to  receive  an  occasional 
call  from  a  friend  without  question  or  comment,"  re- 
turned Lucy,  with  a  show  of  spirit  she  would  have  been, 
incapable  of  assuming  an  hour  previous. 

''  There  is  where  you  are  entirely  mistaken ;  I'll  be 
mistress  of  my  own  house  as  long  as  1  have  one ;  and 
I'm  not  going  to  be  put  down  nor  run  over  by  no  young 
upstart  whatsomdever.  Whoever  comes  under  this  roof 
has  got  to  toe  the  mark,  if  it's  the  grand  Mogul  himself; 
and  I  tell  you,  once  for  all,  I  won't  have  no  rich  man 
coming  and  rushing  into  your  bed-room,  after  my  telling 
him  you  wasn't  tit  to  see  nobody,  so  you  may  as  well 
make  up  your  mind  to  it  fust  as  last.  Either  he  has 
got  to  make  himself  skurce  or  you  have,  that's  the  long 
and  short  of  the  matter.  If  he  comes  again,  you  needn't 
see  him.  Leave  it  to  me,  and  he  won't  come  where  he 
isn't  wanted  again,  I'll  warrant  you." 

*'  He  came  this  time  because  I  sent  for  him  ;  he  will 
come  again,  and  I  must  see  him,"  Lucy  strenuously 
insisted. 

'*  If  you  do,  I  can  tell  you  the  very  next  thing  that 
will  come  to  pass ;  you  will  pack  up  and  be  off,  bag  and 
baggage." 

Lucy  bore  this  intimation  with  composure,  devoutly 
hoping  that  the  speaker  might  prove  a  true  prophetess. 

No  expression  of  angry  resentment  could  have  pro- 
voked her  to  wrath  as  did  this  mute  indifference. 


3T6  THE  KirAL  volunteers;  or, 

"Ion  carry  yonr  ]iead  so  liigli,  Miss  Searls,  that  1 
can't  lielp  thinking  Ton've  fonnd  some  way  of  nnihing  a 
living' — an  honest  one,  I  liopc — independent  of  your 
needle  ;  for  if  you  ain't,  you'd  better  jest  look  and  see 
which  side  your  bread  is  buttered  on.  I  run  hither  and 
yon  to  git.  work  for  you,  and  I  got  it,  and  I  can  take  it 
away  again.  As  true  as  I'm  setting  in  this  chair,  if  out 
of  this  house  you  go,  not  a  rag  belonging  to  my  nephew 
goes  with  you." 

''Thank  you  for  reminding  me  of  the  subject:  if  I 
should  leave  you  suddenly,  it  would  be  inconvenient, 
perhaps  impossible,  for  me  to  comply  with  the  terms 
on  which  I  agreed  to  work  for  him." 

"  I  hope  you  remember  what  those  terms  were  ;  he 
was  to  pay  you  for  making  each  case  of  caps  when  it 
was  finished  and  sent  back  to  him,  not  before." 

''  I  have  a  perfect  recollection  oi"  the  agreement,  and 
have  no  intention  of  evading  it ;  if  I  am  unable  to  make 
the  whole  case  of  caps  he  sent  me  last,  I  will  ask  noth- 
ing for  those  already  finished." 

"  Fractious  !"  was  the  only  word  vouchsafed  by  Mrs. 
Smallmain,  as  she  went  out  of  the  room,  banging  the 
door  after  her. 

It  was  nine  in  the  evening  before  Lucy  heard  the  wel- 
come step  for  which  she  had  long  been  listening. 

Disregarding  the  attempts  to  delay  his  entrance,  Mr. 
Caruthers  made  his  way  straight  to  Lucy's  side. 

'^  Good  news,  my  dear ;  Auverne  put  me  on  the  right 
track  at  once,  and  I  found  that  fellow,  Witherspoon, 
faithfully  and  laboriously  engaged  in  his  country's 
service.'' 

'*  Enlisted  ?" 

"Not  he  ;  but  pegcring  away  at  soldiers'  boots  in  the 
penitentiary.  He  did  serve  once  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  an  aguish  swamp  called  Snakes  Lick,  hundreds 
of  miles  down  the  river,  and  his  term  of  appointment 


THE  BLACK   PLUME   RIFLES.  377 

expired  years  ago,  so  that  stoiy  is — bosli.  Aiiverne  has 
a  shrewd  suspicion  that  Deacon  Brown  is  a  comic  actor, 
who  has  been  in  tlie  city  on  a  theatrical  eng'jigen^ent. 
the  past  season,  as  he  patronized  the  Ironside  Hotel, 
and  has  a  scar  over  the  left  eye  near  the  temple,  as  you 
described.  Come,  let  ns  go  home;  it  is  late,  and  I  have 
not  yet  liad  my  tea." 

^' You  forget  tljat  I  have  not  been  able  to  sit  np  five 
minutes  througli  the  day.  I  can  hardly  raise  my  head 
from  the  pillow." 

"Xever  mind  that;  you  can  lean  back  in  the  car- 
riage, with  my  arm  for  support,  if  you  need  it." 

"  But  my  clothes ;  I  haven't  strength  to  get  them 
together." 

"  'Never  mind  them  either ;  they  don't  amount  to 
much;  but  without  you,  I  do  not  leave  this  house. 
And  now  that  I  am  in  an  authoritative  mood,  I  may  as 
well  tell  you  that  there  is  one  exaction  which  I  sliall 
most  stringently  insist  on  your  complying  v/ith ;  it  is, 
that  you  shall  give  me  your  unreserved  confidence,  in 
return  for  my  own,  never  withdrawing  it  unless  I  give 
you  just  cause  for  such  withdrawal." 

The  beaming  smile  irradiating  Lucy'n  face  showed 
that  what  he  had  termed  an  exaction,  presented  itself  to 
lier  in  the  light  of  a  coveted  privilege. 


THE     END, 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 


Wilmer 
596 


